She longed to know what the fix was, but she did not dare hear. She said softly, "Please don't make me think of him, Stephen. I'd really rather not." "But you must listen, Lydia. Help me. I don't know what I ought to do. I have it in my power to ruin that man. Shall I?" There was a pause. Albee heard her long breaths trembling as she drew them. He thought to himself that his knowledge of her had not gone astray. She had hated that man, and whatever else had changed in her, that hadn't. She suddenly came to life and tried to open the door for herself. "I must go," she said. He did not move. "You know," he said, speaking quickly, "that after your trial he went to pieces, resigned his position, took to drinking again, tried to make his way in New York. He was nearly down and out for a time there." He watched her. A smile, a terrible smile, began to curve the corners of her mouth. He went on: "I couldn't be exactly sorry for his bad luck. In fact, to be candid, I gave him a kick or two when I had the chance. But now he's pulled himself out. He's worked like a dog, and I hear that a couple of friends of mine, of the firm of Simpson, Aspinwall & McCarter, are going to offer him a partnership. It's a big firm, particularly in the political world." There was a short silence. "Shall I let him have it, Lydia?" She raised her shoulders scornfully. "Could you stop his getting it, Stephen?" "Do you doubt it?" She turned on him. Her jaw was set and lifted as in the old days. "Of course I do! If you could have you certainly would have without consulting me. There is a man who you know lacks all integrity and honor, and who, moreover, goes about saying that you tried to bribe him--and failed. Oh, he makes a great point of that--you failed! Would you let a man like that go into a firm of your friends if you could stop it? No, no! Not unless you have grown a good deal meeker than I remember you, Stephen." Albee made a sweeping gesture, as expressive as a Roman emperor's thumbs down. "He shall not have it," and he added with a smile as cruel as Lydia's own: "He believes himself absolutely sure of it." She smiled straight into his eyes. "Bring me that Friday night," she said. "It's more important than the pardon." He opened the door for her and she went out.