The revulsion of feeling caused by so unexpected an announcement almost turned Mark's head for the moment; he caught Vincent by the arm in his excitement. 'What,' he cried, 'is this a trick--are you in earnest--you will spare me after all? You must not, Vincent, I can't have it--I don't deserve it!' Vincent drew back coldly: 'Did I say you deserved it?' he asked, with a contempt that stung Mark. 'Then I won't accept it, do you hear?' he persisted; 'you shall not make this sacrifice for me!' Holroyd laughed grimly enough: 'For you!' he repeated; 'you don't suppose I should tamely give up everything for _you_, do you?' 'Then,' faltered Mark, 'why--why----?' 'Why am I going to let you alone? Do you remember what I told you on that platform at Plymouth?--_that_ is why. If I had only known then, I would have fought my hardest to expose you, if it was necessary to save her in that way--for her sake, not mine. I don't suppose there ever was much hope for me. As it is, you have been clever enough to choose the one shield through which I can't strike you--if I ever thought more of that wretched book than of her happiness, it was only for a moment--she knows nothing as yet, and she must never know!' 'She will know it some day,' said Mark, heavily. 'Why should she know?' demanded Vincent, impatiently; 'you don't mean that that infernal Caffyn knows?' 'No, no,' replied Mark, in all sincerity; 'Caffyn doesn't know--how could he? But you can't hide these things: you--you may have talked about it yourself already!' 'I have not talked about it!' said Vincent, sharply; 'perhaps I was not too proud of having been gulled so easily. Can't you understand? This secret rests between you and me at present, and I shall never breathe a word of it--you can feel perfectly safe--you are Mabel's husband!' It is to be feared that Vincent's manner was far enough from the sublime and heroic; he gave up his book and his fame from the conviction that he could not do otherwise; but it was not easy for all that, and he did not try to disguise the bitter contempt he felt for the cause. Mark could not endure the humiliation of such a pardon--his spirit rose in revolt against it. 'Do you think I will be forgiven like this?' he cried, recklessly. 'I don't want your mercy! I won't take it! If you won't speak, I shall!' Vincent had not expected any resistance from Mark, and this outburst, which was genuine enough, showed that he was not utterly beneath contempt, even then. Holroyd's manner was less harsh and contemptuous when he next spoke: 'It's no use, Ashburn,' he said firmly; 'it's too late for all that now--you _must_ accept it!' 'I shall not,' said Mark again. 'I've been a scoundrel, I know, but I'll be one no longer; I'll tell the truth and give you back your own. I will do what's right at last!'