“Promised! That promise counts for less than nothing! I will get freed without his assistance, and you shall marry me! Darling!”
“But you can’t, Kane,” and Avice spoke now from the shelter of his arms. “No one but Leslie can get you off. He says he will do so whether you are guilty or not. He is very clever.”
“Is he! But so are other people. I will get a lawyer who also is able to ‘get me off whether I am guilty or not’! Oh, Avice!”
“How can you? You have no money. Leslie says you will never get that inheritance from uncle.”
“Does he! Well, let me tell you, dear, I don’t care. My mine is an assured fact; my interests are safe and protected.”
“Where did you get the money for that?”
“Mrs. Black lent it to me. She is a fine business woman, and I turned to her, as the time was growing short and I had to have the money at once, if at all.”
“And I thought you were in love with her!”
“No; she was truly in love with Uncle Trowbridge. But she is a clear-headed financier, and saw at once the scope and promise of my mining interests. She and I will both be rich from that deal. And so, Avice, I can offer you a fortune, not so large as you would get by marrying Hoyt, but still, a fortune. Oh, darling, do you really love me!”
But Avice was weeping silently. “It doesn’t matter that I do, Kane; I am promised to Leslie, and you cannot be freed without his help.”