"No, not even after he tried to put most of the blame upon me. He
tried that, my boy. I just let him talk. It saved me from prison.
Usually the case with the man who keeps his mouth closed."

"But, Elias--Elias, why have I been kept in the dark? Why did he
not tell me about it? Why has--"

"You forget, Graydon, that you turned from him first. You were
really the first to condemn him. He wanted you to stay away from
this country until he is free. That was his plan. He didn't want
to see you. Now he wants you to come to him. He wants you to bring
Jane Cable to see him."

"What!"

"Yes, that's it. I believe he intends to tell her the names of
her father and mother. I think he wants her to forgive him and he
wants to hear both of you say it to him."

Graydon stared blankly from the window. The old clerk was smiling
to himself, an evil, gloating smile that would have shocked Bansemer
had he turned suddenly.

"He wants both of us to--to come to the penitentiary?" muttered
the son.

"Yes, as soon as possible. Do you think she'll go?" demanded Droom
anxiously.

"I don't know. I'm afraid not."