"Which you have not allowed me to see as you did the former letters."
"Then it was necessary for you to learn all particulars. This time it concerned very unpleasant difficulties which I alone must arrange."
"I know; you have tried to release yourself from the whole thing!"
Sandow sprang up, and looked at his brother with the same air of speechless astonishment, as formerly when he heard of the journey to the much talked of possessions.
"I! Who has betrayed that to you?"
"No one, but many signs led me to suppose so, and now I see that I was not mistaken in my supposition."
Sandow looked darkly and suspiciously at his brother, who stood before him with perfect composure.
"You have really a dangerous power of observation! With you one must be perpetually under control, and even then is not safe in his inmost thoughts. Well yes, then, I did wish to withdraw. On closer examination the speculation did not seem so favourable, did not promise half the profit we had at first believed. I tried to release myself from the obligation, or to induce someone else to take my place, but have not been successful. Jenkins stands by the completion of our bargain, and I have now pledged myself completely. Nothing remains but to promptly carry out the first agreement."
He brought out these disjointed remarks with nervous haste, and meanwhile played with his pocket-book which he had drawn out. His whole manner displayed a violent, hardly suppressed excitement. Gustave did not appear to notice it, but replied with calm decision--
"Now there must be some means of freeing oneself from such a bargain."