I rushed wildly from the office after him, and overtook him on the stairs.
"Oh, Jack," I cried, "it really wasn't my--oh! I'm so dreadfully sorry, Jack! If you'll only let me explain, I can--"
He was gone. The door shut-to suddenly in my face, leaving me alone with my misery, and shutting out my one hope of recovering my only friend.
I returned miserable to the office--miserable and savage. Though I knew I had only myself to blame for what had happened, I was fain to vent my anger on the cowardly set who had used my secret against my friend. But when I tried to speak the words would not come. I locked up my desk dejectedly, and without a word to any one, and heedless of the looks and titters that followed me, walked from the place.
Half way down the street I became aware of a footstep following hurriedly, as if to overtake me. Could it be Jack? Was there yet a chance? No, it was Hawkesbury.
"Oh, Batchelor," he said, "I am so sorry. It's most unfortunate the way it came out, isn't it?"
I made no answer, and drew my arm out of his.
"Harris is such a short-tempered fellow," he went on, not noticing my manner, "but I never thought he would go as far as he did. I assure you, Batchelor, when I heard it, I felt quite as sorry as you did."
"I should like to know who told Harris about it," I said. "I didn't."
"Didn't you? Wasn't he there that evening you told all the rest of us? To be sure he wasn't. He must have heard the others speaking about it."
"They all promised--that is, I begged them all--not to tell any one," I said, with a groan.
"Yes, I remember your asking me that evening. It's a great shame if the fellows have told Harris. But he may have heard some other way."
"Well, I suppose it was all in the papers at the time," said Hawkesbury.
"Harris would hardly be in the habit of reading newspapers thirteen or fourteen years old," I said, bitterly.
"Was it so long ago as that?" said Hawkesbury. "No, it hardly does seem likely. Somebody must have told him."
"It was a blackguard thing of him to do," I said, "and I'll take good care never to speak to him again."
"Well, you'd be quite justified in cutting him dead," replied Hawkesbury. "I'd do the same if he'd done as much to a friend of mine."