"She was certainly quite innocent of any ill intention. She could have had no suspicion of your connection with Jenkins, or she would have been silent. She just repeated what she had heard. You see what a reputation your 'friend' bears."
Sandow shrugged his shoulders contemptuously.
"With whom? With a few sentimental Germans, who have brought their narrow, provincial ideas from Europe with them, and are determined not to see that our commerce rests on quite other grounds. Whoever will be successful here must dare; and quite differently from in Europe, where people are still swayed by trivial circumstances. Clifford was one of the anxious and timid ones. I have had hard work enough to drive him forwards. Hence, up to the time of my arrival, he lived in very moderate circumstances; it was only when the guidance of the business fell into my hands that he became a rich man, and the firm entered the ranks of the best in the town. But while we are speaking of Jenkins, you have now had ample time to consider my request, and I await your final answer."
"Then you are still determined to undertake the thing in conjunction with Jenkins?"
"Certainly! Do you suppose that my opinion varies from day to day, or that childish chatter such as we have just heard could make me change?"
"No, I do not suppose so, but that is just why it seemed strange to me that such 'childish gossip' should oblige you to cast down your eyes."
"Gustave, take care!" cried Sandow, his growing passion hardly repressed. "I bear more from you than from anyone else, but this affair will positively separate us. I saw at a glance that you caused the misunderstanding with the agent on purpose to learn how far his instructions went, and I know, too, to whom the remark was directed with which you reproved Miss Palm. But you will gain nothing of me by such means. What I have once decided to do, that I will do, cost what it may, and for the last time I give you the choice; but, if you refuse me your assistance"--
"You are mistaken," interrupted Gustave. "Some days ago I wrote to the K--che Zeitung and asked for room for a long article on the subject; naturally they will be glad to have one from my pen. Most likely it will appear next month."
Sandow was speechless. This quite unexpected submission astonished him greatly, and with a certain amount of suspicion he asked--
"You will let me see the article before you send it?"