His face glared with a livid red. He brought his fist high above his head.
"By heavens!" he roared. "I won't hear that again. I won't listen to it, I tell you. I'm afraid to do it. I cannot do it. I cannot."
He shook his head as he slowly repeated the words.
"Pardon me," Anderson pleaded, "I intended no harm. I apologize most sincerely for my impertinence. It will not happen again, I assure you."
"That will do. Drop it at that."
"The vessel will be ready next week? The meeting, then, can take place a week from Thursday."
"Undoubtedly."
"You will assure me of your interest?"
He was on the point of going. Though he had conquered, still, he did not know that he had conquered. He believed, as he turned and faced his friend for the last time in Mount Pleasant, that his mind was fully made up and that he had decided for all time in favor of the cause, at the sacrifice of himself.
"I shall do what I can," Arnold whispered, "but no more."