“Now I have the only forgiveness I care for,” he said, and his face was radiant. “Now, I must go at once, and report. My duty lies to my country,—to my government! Oh, there are so many things yet to think of! They,—the Government,—offered a reward for me!”
“Which you have won yourself!” exclaimed Penny Wise.
“Yes,” chuckled Zizi, “and you’ve won the reward offered for Mr. Gately’s—” she hesitated,—“for the man who freed the world of one more traitorous viper!”
“And, incidentally,” I added, “you’ve cleared up the puzzle of the man who fell through the earth!”
“It is well that Gately is no more,” Manning said, musingly; “he was especially dangerous because he was in such a high position and so trusted by everybody. Rodman was an equal scoundrel, but he worked inconspicuously. Gately banked on his reputation for honor and probity,—used his own well-earned fame to further the meanest cause on earth!
“Whatever happens, I’m glad he is unable to do further harm. I didn’t mean to kill him—it was an accident,—but the world is well rid of him.”
“Amen,” said Olive, softly.
“Well, the end justifies the means,” said Mrs. Vail, a little hysterically. “Why, once I heard of——”
Ruthlessly, I shut her off.
“Accept my greetings, Mr. Manning,” I said, offering my hand to our new-found friend. “I’m proud to know you!”