She was gone, and Rosemary found herself alone with those fearful papers in her hand. Destroy them? Yes! That is what she would do. She had known all along that Elza would be a true heroine; she would not sacrifice her people even as propitiation for her son. Strangely enough, Elza's point of view was in direct opposition to Jasper's. Her own splendid ideals had been her guide, and though she was not by any means an intellectual woman, she was clever enough to appreciate the immense lever for evil which Rosemary's articles would have put into the hands of the enemies of her people.
Destroy them? Yes! That was the only thing to be done now. Let the chapter of doubts be finally ended. What Rosemary had thought right Elza had endorsed. Everything else was sophistry and specious argument. So let temptation itself be swept away. The touch of these papers had become as noisome as a plague spot. With them in her hand Rosemary went up to her room. Jasper was there, waiting for her and smoking a cigarette. His eyes lit up with a curious flash when she came in.
"You have seen Elza?" he asked.
"How did you know?"
"It was not a very difficult guess," he said. Then he went on: "She thinks as you do?"
"Absolutely!" Rosemary replied.
He gave a quick, impatient sigh. "I am sorry," he said. "What will you do now?"
"Destroy these papers, of course. I have no further use for them."
Jasper appeared thoughtful for a moment or two, then he said: "I think Elza ought to have put the matter before Anna's mother before she finally decided."
"She is going to do that now," Rosemary said.