old man, I came here to see you this morning fairly trembling in my
boots. I had an idea it was going to be a hard, nasty business talking
it over with you, but--by George, it isn't. Now, we can get down to
rock-bottom, Bingle. My plan was to--"

"Just a minute, please," interrupted Mr. Bingle, quite steadily. "Did
you know that she was going to become a mother?"

"Certainly. You don't suppose I'd be looking for the child if I hadn't
known she was to be born, do you? I'd be a nice fool, hiring
detectives to unearth some other man's child, wouldn't I?"

"I must agree with you in one particular, Force; you are not finding
it as hard as you thought it would be. I've never seen a man change
more than you have in the past four minutes. You were shaking like a
leaf when you came up here, and now--well, 'pon my soul, you are as
brave as a lion. That certainly proves one thing."

"What's that?"

"That your conscience is clearing."

"Now, don't get it into your head, Bingle, that I'm not dreadfully
sorry for the way that poor girl came to her end. She was really a
brick. She deserved something better."

"Knowing that she was going to bear your child, Force, you have every
reason, I am sure, to say that she was a brick. I, too, say that she
deserved something better than being the mother of your child. What
happened? Did she leave you of her own accord?"