Heloise had become very thoughtful.
“Then he knew!” she said. “The piker! Wouldn’t that make you sore! Fifty thousand dollars—ten thousand pounds—seven hundred thousand francs—every mark in the world—and all to be cleaned up on his lonesome!”
She was apparently oblivious of Gordon’s presence. The immensity of Dan’s treachery was all-absorbing.
“So that’s why he wanted to work alone! ‘Get him to Ostend,’ he said, ‘and leave the rest to me!’ And the rest was fifty thousand dollars! That fellow couldn’t go straight if he was fired from a gun. Not a word to me either—he expected to get a thousand pounds, he said—it is the most unprofessional thing I’ve ever heard about in my life!”
“My dear woman,” said Gordon testily, “the ethics of the case do not interest me——”
“But he’s gonna split this two ways,” said Heloise grimly, “or my name is Johanna Dub. He’s going to act honest even if it hurts him. Yes, sir. There’s going to be honour amongst Double Dan and Heloise Chowster. Shame on you, Dan, you great big yegg!”
The perfidy of the man had changed her whole outlook on life. Her very ideals were tottering.
“He’ll split it no-ways, understand that!” Gordon was firm. “I will not see myself robbed. Do you think I’m a fool?”
She searched his face for rebutting evidence.
“Why, that idea certainly did occur to me,” she said mildly; and then her tone changed. Diana’s step was on the stair. “I won’t plead with you any more, Dan, there’s nothin’ to be gained. I—I wish you luck! Won’t you take my hand for the last time?”