"And yet you ask why others should seek to punish you? Perhaps you are one of those men whose natures are so dishonorable that you think you did nothing wrong at that time."
"So it was then that I was supposed to have done this terrible thing—whatever it was?"
"As you know, Mr. Prale."
"But I do not know, Miss Gilbert. To the best of my recollection I left New York without having done anything in the least dishonorable; and certainly I did nothing to merit a band of enemies working against me."
"What is it that you wish me to do?" she asked.
"Be fair with me, Miss Gilbert. I tell you that there is some terrible mistake! If I am supposed to know all about this, what harm can there be in your repeating the details to me? Tell me what crime I am supposed to have committed to merit this attack. Give me a chance to prove my innocence! The common thug gets that chance in a court of law, you know."
"But this is ridiculous!" she exclaimed. "There can be no question of it! The whole thing came out at the time."
"Then you do not wish to be fair?" Prale asked.
"I cannot allow you to say that. I will tell the story to you, Mr. Prale, tell exactly what you did—as you know very well—if that will be any satisfaction to you. But it will do you no good to deny it!"
"Tell me!" Sidney Prale said.