"Say, for God's sake, Jim, help me. Take this attorneyship. It will please her and I'll make you rich. Come in with me and you'll never regret it. I know my folks were not your social equals in the old days down South. But you know as well as I do that money talks here. Have common sense. Look at things as they are. Come in with me and let's get at these Yankees. They left you and me cradles of poverty. They owe us something. Come in with me and we'll get it!" There was no mistaking the genuineness of Bivens's feelings. Stuart knew that he felt deeply and sincerely every word that he uttered. The first rush of his anger had died away and he begun to realize the pathos of the little man's appeal. He forgot for the moment that he was a millionaire and had made his money by devious tricks with that smooth, delicately moulded hand. He only saw that Bivens, his old schoolmate, had unconsciously fallen into a trap. A word from him--the word he wished spoken, and the woman he loved would be lost. He had but to speak that word, accept the generous offer made in good faith, and every cloud between him and Nan would vanish! They could be married at once and the future was secure. All he had to do was to keep silent for the moment as to his real relations to Nan and compromise his sense of honour by accepting the wages of a man whose principles he despised. His decision was made without a moment's hesitation. It was yet the morning of life. "I refuse the offer, Cal," he said firmly. Bivens rose quickly and placed his smooth hand on his friend's. "I won't take that answer now. Think it over. I'll see you again." He turned and left the room before Stuart could reply. The lawyer drew a photograph from his desk and looked at it, smiling tenderly. "I wonder, Nan! I wonder!" The smile slowly faded, and a frown clouded his brow. The lines of his mouth suddenly tightened. "I'll settle it to-day," he said with decision, as he rose, took his hat and left for Gramercy Park. CHAPTER V AN ISSUE IS FORCED It was noon when Stuart reached the Primrose house and Nan was again out. He received the announcement from her mother with a feeling of rage he could ill conceal. "Where is she? I seem never to be able to find her at home." "Now, don't be absurd, Jim. You know she would have broken any engagement to see you, had she known you were going to call to-day. She has only gone to the dressmaker's." "How long will she be there?" "Until four." "Four hours at a dressmaker's----" "And then she's going to the hair dressser's." "And then?" "She has an engagement for tea. I don't expect her home until seven. I'm awfully sorry." "Of course, I understand, Mrs. Primrose," Stuart said with a light laugh, "I should have told her--but I didn't know until a few moments ago that I was coming." "Nothing serious has happened, I hope?" she asked, with carefully modulated sympathy which said plainly that she hoped for the worst.