“Have you seen him recently?” she asked.
“No,” Gilder answered.
“Then, why did you come?”
Thereat, the man was seized with a fatherly fury. His heavy face was congested, and his sonorous voice was harsh with virtuous rebuke.
“Because I intend to save my boy from a great folly. I am informed that he is infatuated with you, and Inspector Burke tells me why—he tells me—why—he tells me——” He paused, unable for a moment to continue from an excess of emotion. But his gray eyes burned fiercely in accusation against her.
Inspector Burke himself filled the void in the halting sentence.
“I told you she had been an ex-convict.”
“Yes,” Gilder said, after he had regained his self-control. He stared at her pleadingly. “Tell me,” he said with a certain dignity, “is this true?”
Here, then, was the moment for which she had longed through weary days, through weary years. Here was the man whom she hated, suppliant before her to know the truth. Her heart quickened. Truly, vengeance is sweet to one who has suffered unjustly.
“Is this true?” the man repeated, with something of horror in his voice.