"Why won't you understand, father, that it's because he has everything to offer, while I have nothing. He's been given the highest office that the State has to give--a position that he thought would entitle him to me--and I, who am I ...?" "You're the woman he wants, the woman he's earned, girlie," said her father, his voice softening. "I am the daughter of a convict," she went on swiftly, her tones cutting into the air like frost. Her father stared at her aghast for an instant. Then he slowly returned to his seat at his desk and slumped into it heavily, and groaned. "Ye gods, but you're harsh!" he cried. "You wanted to know why," she answered, "and now you do not understand--you're everything to me, everything, father. But the reason--the world, the people of whom Eliot is going to be governor, they look only on the record, and I'm not his equal. Upon me rests this taint--I'm not complaining--I'm glad to stand by you, father.... But I have pride--how can I, with this disgrace upon us, give myself to Eliot Beekman?" "Nonsense, girl," said Wilkinson, pulling himself together, "I'll get clear all right." "When you do," she declared with a faint smile, "and if he then asks me, I'll take him. If he does not...." A sigh of misery escaped her. "You're a little fool! Confound it, Leslie, this thing was all cut and----" He checked himself suddenly, remembering his promise to the Colonel. "Cut and dried," she echoed in surprise. "Yes, this National Bank conspiracy," he mumbled in confusion, "the courts here in the city are backing them up. But up there in Albany, I'll get free, you'll see." And now with a sudden change of manner, he continued: "Look here, Leslie, I've got reasons, too--reasons a darned sight better than yours, why I want you to marry Eliot Beekman. Never mind what they are. The fact is, I want you to be settled--I want it all fixed.... I give you my word--the Colonel will give you his word that I shall get clear. We know it, we've got it fixed.... It's all right--there can't be a slip up. And now, besides my freedom, which I'm going to get, there's only one thing in the world that I want, and that is that you marry Eliot Beekman. Good heavens, girl, can't you see--don't you see that this thing is vital to me? I'm no woman, and I don't speak at random. You've got to marry Eliot Beekman; if you don't----" "But I can't," she returned simply; and from this decision there seemed no appeal. "I can't accept him now, father." Leslie rose and made a movement to go. But Wilkinson, feeling as though the hangman's noose was already settling about his neck, snatched up the receiver on his desk with one hand, while with the other he made an authoritative gesture for the girl to resume her seat. "Is Mr. Flomerfelt in the house?" he called through the instrument. A look of pained surprise and annoyance at once crossed Leslie's face. Heedless of it Wilkinson spoke again.