"Ah, you've found him out!"
"On the contrary, the longer I know him the more highly I think of him. I don't see him because he's busy. He has been having a difficult time—in business. He decided to get out of politics and go into straight law. New York is like a ferocious monster to a man beginning any profession. Dan—but it doesn't matter. His troubles are over now."
"Are they indeed?" said Lydia.
"Yes, he's had a wonderful offer of a partnership from an older man who——Oh, Lydia, you ought to try to see that your point of view about him is a prejudiced—a natural one, but still——"
"Is it a definite offer, Eleanor?"
"Yes, absolutely, though the papers are not to be signed for a day or so."
Lydia breathed in thoughtfully "A day or so," and Eleanor pressed on.
"It isn't that I care what you think of him or he of you. I'm past that with my friends, and, as I say, I don't see nearly as much of him as I used to; but——"
"Of course you don't," answered Lydia. "He's ashamed—or, no, it's more that he can't bear to see himself in contrast with your perfect integrity, Eleanor. Did you know that he came to prison to see me, to gloat over me? Sent in for me to come to him in my prison clothes——"
Lydia's breath quickened as she spoke of the outrage.