“Not because I believe him innocent, though I do believe him so, but because of your promise. That is what makes me work for his release, as I dare to say no counsel ever worked before. That is why I fear the result as I have never feared anything in my life. Because of my reward if I win! Because of you, you beautiful prize, that I shall deserve, when I conquer the fight!”
“Leslie, could no one else free Kane, but you?”
“No! a thousand times No! Who else would use every means, honorable or not! Who else would jeopardize his legal standing, forget professional ethics, resort to underhand methods, fearless of censure and opprobrium, so he but win his case? And all because a girl holds my heart in the hollow of her little white hand!”
Avice was amazed and almost frightened at his vehemence. What was she, she asked herself, that these two men should love her so desperately? Kane had not declared himself in such glowing words as Hoyt, nor had he expressed willingness to do wrong for her sake; but she knew his love was as deep, his passion as strong as that of his counsel.
“Leslie,” she began timidly, for she had determined to stake all on one throw; “if you free Kane,——”
“Don’t say if,—say when!”
“Well, then, when you free him, won’t you,—won’t you let me off from my—my promise to marry you,—if I give you all the fortune?”
“Avice, what do you mean? Are you crazy? Of course I won’t! It is you I want, not the fortune. And, besides, you couldn’t do that. If you don’t marry me, the fortune goes to found a museum.”
“Yes, I know,—but,—you are so clever, Leslie, couldn’t you somehow break the will, or get around it, or——”
“Dishonestly! Why, Avice!”