brokenly:

"I don't care if they 're the worst people in the world, they're better
than I am!"

The other's gloom cleared a little at this. "Well, you _have_ got it!"
he exclaimed briskly. "You don't know how different you'll feel after a
long walk in the open air." He looked at his watch. "I've got to go and
see what that newspaper-man, Cornish, wants; it's ten o'clock. I'll be
back after a while; I want to reason this out with you. I don't deny but
it's possible I'm wrong; anyway, you think it over while I'm gone. You
take a good hard think, will you?"

As he closed the door, Mellin slowly drew the coverlet over his head. It
was as if he covered the face of some one who had just died.




VIII. What Cornish Knew


Two hours passed before young Cooley returned. He knocked twice without
a reply; then he came in.

The coverlet was still over Mellin's head.

"Asleep?" asked Cooley.

"No."