"You don't know how to speak the truth, Madalena! You said you found me through Lady Annesley-Seton hearing from Mrs. Waldo, whereas you wrote to Paul Van Vreck." "You do me injustice--always! I _did_ hear from Constance. Then I--merely ventured to write and ask Mr. Van Vreck if he kept up communication with you, and----" "You said in your letter to him that you knew where I was, and gave him to understand that we were in touch with each other, or he would have let out nothing." "He has written and told you this!" She spoke breathlessly, as if in fear. "Ah, you give yourself away! No, I haven't heard from Van Vreck since I saw him in New York, and thought I convinced him that my working days for him were over. I simply guessed--knowing you--what you would do." "I may have mentioned Texas," Madalena admitted. "I supposed he knew where you were. I couldn't have told him, because I didn't know. But he wrote and suggested I should use my influence with you to reconsider your decision. Those were his words." "How much has he paid you for coming here?" "Nothing. As if I would take money for coming to _you_!" "You have taken it for some queer things, and will again if you don't settle down to private life with your millionaire.... It's no use, Madalena. Go back to San Francisco. Send in your bill to Van Vreck. Tell him there's nothing doing. And make up your mind to marriage." "But, Don, you haven't heard what he offers." "It can't be more than he offered me himself when I saw him in New York----" "It is more. He says that particularly. He raises the offer from last time. It is _three times_ higher! Think what that means. Oh, Don, it means life, real life, not stagnation! I would give up safety and a million to be with you--as your partner again, your humble partner. "Here, on this bleak ranch, it is like death--a death of dullness. I know what you must be suffering because you are obstinate, because you have taken a resolve, and are determined not to break it. You are afraid it will be weakness to break it. There can be no other reason. "I have asked questions about your life here. I have learned things. I know _she_ is cold as ice. If you stay you will degenerate. You will become a clod. "Leave this hideous gray place. Leave that woman who treats you like a dog. Let the ranch be hers. Send her money. You will have it to spare. She can divorce you, and you will be freed forever from the one great mistake you ever made. As for me----" "As for you--be silent!" The command struck like a whiplash. "You are not worthy to speak of 'that woman,' as you call her. If I did what you deserve, I'd send you off without another word--turn my back on you and let you go. But--" he drew in his breath sharply, then went on as if he had taken some tonic decision--"I want you to understand why, if Paul Van Vreck offered me _all_ his money, and you offered me the love of all the women on earth with your own, I shouldn't be tempted to accept.