“I think you are very generous,” Gregory declared, with a certain contriteness in his tone.
“The adjective seems to me to demand explanation,” Mr. Endacott ruminated.
“You know very well, sir,” Gregory continued, “that there are circumstances which would have justified you in refusing this invitation and refusing to meet me anywhere.”
“Ah!” Mr. Endacott murmured. “That affair of the Image, of course.”
Claire rose to her feet. Gregory waved her back again.
“Please listen, Miss Endacott,” he begged. “I want you to hear what I have to say. You know what happened?”
She assented gravely.
“My uncle has told me,” she admitted.
“I can assure you, sir,” Gregory went on, “that when I left those extraordinary premises of yours, I meant to send you the thing straight back. I had one last look at it, however, and the longer I looked, the more uncertain I felt about the whole business. I kept telling myself that it was a debt of honour. Then I kept on finding poisonous ideas in my brain—ideas which I honestly believe I have never had before. I was parting with perhaps a great treasure just on the turn of a card—a Chinaman’s turn of the card, too.”
“You don’t suggest,” Mr. Endacott began——