Jack waited with his eyes fixed compellingly on the other man. Garrod's eyes struggled to escape them, and could not. Suddenly he broke down, and buried his head in his arms. "I'll do it!" he sobbed.
Jack sprang up. "Good!" he cried with blazing eyes. "The whole truth? You took the money, and spent it, and let them fasten the theft on me?"
"I took the money, and spent it, and let them fasten the theft on you," repeated Garrod.
Jack drew a long breath, and, sitting again, wiped his face. Not until he felt the sense of relief that surged through him did he realize how much this had meant to him. He could look almost kindly on the stricken figure in front of him now, and the sobs inspired him with none of the disgust he would have felt at any other time. He waited patiently for Garrod to recover himself. When the man at last became quiet he said, not unkindly:
"Are you ready now?"
"For what?" asked Garrod, lifting a terrified face.
"Let us go back to camp. Vassall is there. You can tell him."
Garrod desperately shook his head. "Linda—Miss Trangmar is there. I couldn't—I couldn't have her hear me!"
"But we could take Vassall away."
"No," he said. "Don't you understand? Vassall is after her. He'll be glad of this. I couldn't tell him."