"You hold a brief for Lady Richard, but I fail to see the reason why. We are friends, very old friends, but nothing else. Our future concerns no one but ourselves," he said. "Exactly. The future of each of you concerns the other," she answered triumphantly. "She loves you, and because of this all her thoughts are centred in you." "I must really confess, Miss Mortimer, that I do not see the drift of your argument," he said. "Lady Richard has no connection whatever with the present matter, which is my private affair alone." "But since she loves you as devotedly as she does, it concerns her deeply." "I repeat that we are friends, not lovers," he replied with some asperity. "And I repeat, just as emphatically, that she loves you, and that it is your duty to confide in her," answered Muriel, determined not to haul down her flag. "Love!" he cried bitterly, beginning to pace the room, for as soon as he thought of Claudia his attempt to remain calm was less and less effective; "what is love to me? There is no love for such as I." "No, Mr. Chisholm," she said earnestly, stretching forth her hand. "Pardon me, I pray, for speaking thus, but to every man and woman both love and happiness are given, if only they will accept it." He was thinking of Claudia, and of the fact that she had first seen Cator and had contrived to keep him aloof from the guests. She could surely suspect nothing, otherwise she would have waited to see him after the visitor's departure. Yes, he knew that everything said by this fair-haired girl was quite true. That was the unfortunate factor in the affair. She loved him. "Tell me, then," he demanded at last, "what do you advise? You know that I have a secret; that I intend deliberately to take my life and to trouble no one any further. As you have prevented me from doing so, it is to you I look for help and good counsel." "I am ready and eager to give both," she exclaimed, "only I very much fear that you do not trust me, Mr. Chisholm! Well, after all, that is not very remarkable when the short period of our acquaintanceship is borne in mind. Nevertheless, I am Claudia's friend, and consequently yours. You must really not do anything foolish. Think of your own position, and of the harsh judgment you will naturally provoke by your insane action!" "I know! I know!" he replied. "But to me the opinion of the world counts for absolutely nothing. I have sinned, and, like other men, must bear the penalty. For me there is no pardon on this side of the grave." "There is always pardon for the man who is loved." "A love that must turn to hate when the truth is discovered," he added bitterly, with a short, dry laugh. "No, I much prefer the alternative of death. I do not fear the end, I assure you. Indeed, I really welcome it," and he laughed again nervously, as though suicide were one of the humours of life.