Stuart paused and looked at the older man sharply.
"Are you listening, Doctor?" he asked, seizing his arm. "Did you hear what I just said to you?"
"Hear what? No, I can't hear anything. Jim, except a devil that follows me everywhere, day and night, and whispers in my ear--'thief! thief!' It's no use. I'm done."
"Well I'm not done. I've just begun. You are not going to give up and you're not going to prison. We'll go to Bivens's house to-night. We'll tell him the truth. We'll return the value of his jewels. I'll get the money to make good what you owe him----" his voice broke.
"Oh, why, why, why didn't you let me know; but what's the use to ask, it's done now!"
"Yes, it's done and it can't be undone," the older man interrupted hopelessly.
"But it can and it will be undone. I've influence with Bivens. He'll drop the matter and no one on earth will know save we three. You can go on with your work among the poor and I'll help you."
"But you don't understand, Jim," the broken man protested, feebly. "I tell you I've given up. I can't take your money, I can't pay. I tell you I've given up. I can't take your money. I can't pay it back."
"You can pay it back, too, if you like. Harriet will be earning thousands of dollars in a few years. Her success is sure."
"Her success _is_ sure, isn't it?" he asked with the eagerness of a child. And then the smile slowly faded.
"Yes you will. I'm running your affairs now, and you've got to do what I say. Get ready. We are going to see Bivens."
"I'll do it if you say so, boy," the doctor answered feebly, "but it's no use. He'll prosecute me to the limit of the law."
Bivens refused point blank at first to see Woodman and ordered his servant to put him out of the house and ask Stuart to remain for a conference.
Stuart drew from his case a card and wrote a message to Nan.
"Imperative that I see Cal at once in the presence of my friend on a matter of grave importance. Please send him down. He is stubborn."
Bivens came in a few minutes, shook hands cordially with Stuart and ignored Woodman.
"I want to see you alone with the doctor," the young lawyer began, "where we can not possibly be overheard."
The financier's keen eyes looked piercingly from one to the other, and he said curtly: