"But I--I've got to tell you more," said the lad miserably, as meeting Ravenslee's eye with an effort, he went on feverishly. "The other night after--after Bud slipped me the--the stuff an' I'd had a--a drink or two, he began askin' all about you. At first I blocked and side-stepped all his questions, but he kep' on at me, an' at last I--I give you away, Geoff--" Here Spike paused breathlessly and cast an apprehensive glance toward his hearer, but finding him silent and serene as ever he repeated: "I--gave you away, Geoff!" "Did you, Spike?" "Yes, I--I told him who you really are!" "Did you, Spike?" "Yes! Yes! Oh, Geoff, don't you understand?" "I understand." "Well, why don't ye say something? Why don't ye tell me what I am? Say I'm a dirty sneak--call me a yeller cur--anything!" "No, you were drunk, that's all; and when the drink is in, honour, and all that makes a man, is out--you were only drunk." "Oh, but I wasn't s' drunk as all that," gasped Spike, cowering in his chair, "but he kep' on comin' at me with his questions, an' at last--when I told him how I met up with you--he kind o' give a jump--an' his face--" Spike clenched his fists and, slowly raising them, pressed them upon his eyes. "I'll never forget th' look on--his face! So now you know as I've blown th' game on ye--given ye away--you as was my friend!" With the word Spike sobbed and fell grovelling on his knees. "Curse me, Geoff!" he cried. "Oh, curse me, an' tell me what I am!" "You are Hermione's brother!" "My God!" wailed the boy. "If she knew, she'd hate me." "I--almost think she would, Spike." "You won't tell her, Geoff, you won't never let her know?" "I--don't get drunk, Spike." "But you won't tell her?" he pleaded, reaching out desperate hands, "you won't?" "Not a word, Spike!" "Oh, I know I'm--rotten!" sobbed the lad. "I know you ain't got no use for me any more, but I'm sorry, Geoff, I'm real sorry. I know a guy can't forgive a guy as gives a guy away if that guy's a guy's friend. I know as you can't forgive me. I know as you'll cut me out for good after this. But I want ye t' know as I'm sorry, Geoff--awful sorry--I--I ain't fit t' be anybody's friend, I guess." "I think you need a friend more than ever, Spike!" "Geoff!" cried the boy breathlessly. "Say--what d' you mean?" "I mean the time has come for you to choose between M'Ginnis and me. If I am to be your friend, M'Ginnis must be your enemy from now on--wait! If you want my friendship, no more secrets; tell me just how M'Ginnis got you into his power--how he got you to break into my house." Spike glanced up through his tears, glanced down, choked upon a sob, and burst into breathless narrative.