"But this was over a month ago," she said when he had ended. "Have the expected developments in Mr. Rogers's business taken place?"
"Tell her all," Temptation ordered. He resisted this command, and then Temptation approached him more guilefully. "Tell her all, only give no names but yours and Rogers, and no clues that would enable her to identify her father." This appealed to David's bitterness, and instantly he began.
He told her Rogers's true story, which of course he had as yet not done—of Rogers's fight, so like his own—of Rogers's deception of the world for ten years that he might live honestly—of his loneliness during that time, his fears, his secret kindnesses—of the first stages of the real estate deal—of the vast meaning of success to Rogers, and of its meaning to himself—and finally of the happenings of the day before. "So you see," he ended, "this Mr. A. has utterly destroyed Mr. Rogers, in cold blood, merely that he might increase the profits of his company."
She had followed him with tensest interest, and indignation's flame in cheek and eye had grown higher and higher.
"Do you mean to say," she demanded, slowly, "that any man would do such a thing as that?"
"Yes—and a most respected citizen."
"It was heartless!" she burst out hotly. "That man would do anything!"
It filled David with grim joy to hear her pass such judgment upon her own father. At that moment he was untroubled by a single thought as to whether he had acted honourably to betray her into pronouncing judgment.
"That man should be exposed!" she went on. "Honourable business men should ostracise him. Won't you tell me his name? Perhaps my father can do something."
An ironic laugh leaped into David's throat. He checked it. "No, I cannot tell his name."