"'But he can't do that. No one could ever have recognised you on
your flying trip to London disguised as a diamond merchant who
had just learned that he could make his faulty diamonds good by
applications of radium and who wanted a good stock of the stuff.'

"'Still, we'll have to drop the suit against Gregory after all,
in spite of what I said. That part is hopelessly spoiled.'

"'Yes, I suppose so. Oh, well, I'm free now. She can hardly help
but consent to a divorce now, and a quiet settlement. She brought
it on herself--we tried every other way to do it, but she--she
was too good to fall into it. She forced us to it.'

"'Yes, you'll get a good divorce now. But can't we shut up this
man Kennedy? Even if he can't prove anything against us, the mere
rumour of such a thing coming to the ears of Mrs. Tulkington
would be unpleasant.'

"'Go as far as you like, Lawrence. You know what the marriage
will mean to me. It will settle my debts to you and all the
rest.'

"'I'll see what I can do, Close. He'll be back in a moment.'"

Close's face was livid. "It's a pack of lies!" he shouted,
advancing toward Kennedy, "a pack of lies! You are a fakir and a
blackmailer. I'll have you in jail for this, by God--and you too,
Gregory."

"One moment, please," said Kennedy calmly. "Mr. Lawrence, will