if I can work it--" He had a sudden vision of the
comprehensiveness of the temptation. If only he had been less
sure of Dinslow! His assurance gave the situation the base
element of safety.

"I don't understand you," she faltered.

"Trust me, instead!" he adjured her, with sudden energy; and
turning on her abruptly, "If you go, you know, you go free," he
concluded.

She drew back, paling a little. "Why do you make it harder for
me?"

"To make it easier for myself," he retorted.



IV


Glennard, the next afternoon, leaving his office earlier than
usual, turned, on his way home, into one of the public libraries.

He had the place to himself at that closing hour, and the
librarian was able to give an undivided attention to his tentative
request for letters--collections of letters. The librarian
suggested Walpole.

"I meant women--women's letters."