"So that argument would not shake it?"
"So that no argument could shake it."
"Nor any persuasion?"
His voice had sunk only a semi-tone, but her feminine ear noted the change.
"Nor any persuasion," she replied.
"Then suppose I presented to you neither argument nor persuasion, but a condition?"
"But there is no conceivable condition that could arise to change me. You refuse to understand that I see this thing as a duty."
A lamp stronger than its fellows threw a quick ray full upon her face; her brown eyes were charmingly serious, her lips dangerously sweet.
"What I understand," responded Dyker, "is that there is one situation in which a woman may find herself where there arises a duty that crowds all others from the board."
His hand, in the semi-darkness, sought and found her own, its glove withdrawn, cool and firm and unretreating.