"Certainly; you shall read it word for word."
The clouds began to disappear from Sandow's brow.
"I am glad, very glad. It would have been very painful to me if a refusal on your part had led to a breach between us."
"On my account, or on that of the Clifford's money?" asked Gustave, with overflowing bitterness.
"Jessie's fortune is not endangered by this speculation," said Sandow, shortly and emphatically. "It is principally placed in very good securities, and Clifford stated expressly in his will that his daughter's inheritance should not be risked in any speculation before she came of age or married. If it will soothe your tender conscience, I can assure you that your future wife has not the slightest interest in this affair. I have gone into it at my own risk, and stand to win or lose alone."
He rose to go. Gustave rose too.
"One more question, Frank. You have gone very heavily into this speculation?"
"With half of all I possess! You see its success is most important to me; therefore I am very glad that we are at last agreed. I repeat, that sort of petty morality won't answer at the present day; sooner or later you will see that for yourself."
"With the half of all he possesses!" murmured Gustave, following the speaker. "That is bad, very bad! Here we must go to work with the greatest caution!"