“Well?” he said tentatively.
Garth quietly tendered him back the letters.
“You shouldn't believe everything you hear, Herrick,” was all he vouchsafed.
“Then it isn't true?” asked Miles searchingly.
“It sounds improbable,” replied Trent composedly.
Miles reflected a moment. Then, slowly replacing the papers within the elastic band, he remarked—
“I think I'll take Sara's opinion.”
If he had desired to break down the other's guard of indifference, he succeeded beyond his wildest expectations.
Trent sprang to his feet, his hand outstretched as though to snatch the letters back again. His eyes blazed excitedly.
“No! No! You mustn't do that—you can't do that! It's——Oh! You won't understand—but those papers must be destroyed.”