“What a fool I’ve been, what a fool!” he groaned.
Heloise looked at him: in this mood he was interesting.
“Why, I guess every man’s a fool—he’s born that way, and has got twen’y years to pull himself right before some woman comes along and spoils his chance. I used to know a boy in Ontario, where I was born—Minneapolis, I mean—who got right after he was married, but he was an exception. And he’d done the mischief then.”
“I’ll not stand it,” said Gordon between his teeth. “Whatever happens, I’m going to put a spoke in the wheel of this Double Dan.”
“You don’t say?” She was politely intrigued.
“Am I going to remain quietly by and see a couple of crooks——”
“Oh, say!” she protested.
“—robbing society with impunity?”
“That’s fine. And if Dan gets busy he’ll rob with any old thing that’s handy. He’s a genius that way. My John says that Dan could open a safe with a hairpin——”
“I’ll report this to the police,” said Gordon firmly. “I was a fool not to take this step before. It may mean exposure, it may mean social ruin; it will certainly mean....” He stopped before he came to the possible effect upon Diana. “I’ll have you both in gaol—both of you.”