"What do you mean by that?" he said.
"You must always succeed, and that is terrible! At the first defeat every one will be up in arms against you—because every one wants to see you ruined."
"Every one?" he said, looking in her eyes.
A second time she took off the ring and gave it to him, and as he protested she said coldly:
"Don't make me angry. The comedy has been amusing. Enough. Also, don't trouble yourself about my motives. I haven't the slightest intention of marrying you or any one else."
And she accompanied the words with a gesture so imperative that, amazed at the change, he no longer insisted. As he put out his hand, she said suddenly, as if obeying an intuition:
"I will tell you what you want to know. Gunther is almost sure to come to Majendie's aid. I know it by a woman. Take care of yourself."
"And I will tell you exactly the opposite," he said, bluffing. "Gunther will not lend a cent; Majendie will go under, and I'll pull through."
"You'll pull through even if the Atlantic Trust closes?"
"Exactly."