'It's too late,' he burst out. 'I'll be square with her now, but
it's too late. I won't stand in her way when I can make her happy.
But I'll lose her! Oh, my God, I'll lose her!'
He gripped the edge of the table.
'Did you think I had never said to myself,' he went on, 'the things
you said to me that day when we met here? Did you think I didn't
know what I was? Who should know it better than myself? But she
didn't. I'd kept it from her. I'd sweat for fear she would find out
some day. When I came over here, I thought I was safe. And, then,
you came, and I saw you together. I thought you were a crook. You
were with Mullins in New York. I told her you were a crook.'
'You told her that!'
'I said I knew it. I couldn't tell her the truth--why I thought so.
I said I had made inquiries in New York, and found out about you.'
Jimmy saw now. The mystery was solved. So, that was why Molly had
allowed them to force her into the engagement with Dreever. For a
moment, a rush of anger filled him; but he looked at McEachern, and
it died away. He could not be vindictive now. It would be like
hitting a beaten man. He saw things suddenly from the other's view-
point, and he pitied him.
'I see,' he said, slowly.
McEachern gripped the table in silence.
'I see,' said Jimmy again. 'You mean, she'll want an explanation.'
He thought for a moment.
'You must tell her,' he said, quickly. 'For your own sake, you must
tell her. Go and do it now. Wake up, man!' He shook him by the
shoulder. 'Go and do it now. She'll forgive you. Don't be afraid of
that. Go and look for her, and tell her now.'
McEachern roused himself.
'I will,' he said.
'It's the only way,' said Jimmy.
McEachern opened the door, then fell back a pace. Jimmy could hear
voices in the passage outside. He recognized Lord Dreever's.
McEachern continued to back away from the door.
Lord Dreever entered, with Molly on his arm.
'Hullo,' said his lordship, looking round. 'Hullo, Pitt! Here we all
are, what?'
'Lord Dreever wanted to smoke,' said Molly.
She smiled, but there was anxiety in her eyes. She looked quickly at
her father and at Jimmy.
'Molly, my dear,' said McEachern huskily, 'I to speak to you for a
moment.'
Jimmy took his lordship by the arm.
'Come along, Dreever,' he said. 'You can come and sit out with me.
We'll go and smoke on the terrace.'
They left the room together.
'What does the old boy want?' inquired his lordship. 'Are you and
Miss McEachern--?'
'We are,' said Jimmy.
'By Jove, I say, old chap! Million congratulations, and all that
