"Daniel," he asked, "what is the use?"
"She has told you the truth," repeated Daniel steadily, "I gave her the check."
"You are ready to swear to this?"
"If it is necessary, I am."
Alice had dragged herself slowly forward, still on her knees, but as she came nearer him, Daniel retreated instinctively step by step until he had put the table between them.
"It is better for me to go away, I suppose, at once?" he inquired of Richard.
The gesture with which Richard responded was almost impatient. "If you are determined—it will be necessary for a time at least," he replied. "There's no doubt, I hope, that the case will be hushed up, but already there has been something of a scandal. I have made good the loss to the bank, but Geoffrey has been very difficult to bring to reason. He wanted a divorce and he wanted revenge in a vulgar way upon Alice."
"But she is safe now?" asked Daniel, and the coldness in his tone came as a surprise to him when he spoke.
"Yes, she is safe," returned Richard, "and you, also, I trust. There is little danger, I think, under the circumstances, of a prosecution. If at any time," he added, with a shaking voice, "before your return you should wish the control of your property, I will turn it over to you at once."
"Thank you," said Daniel quietly, and then with an embarrassed movement, he held out his hand. "I shall go, I think, on the four o'clock train," he continued, "is that what you would advise?"