He laughed and gathered up his hat and stick:
"Your moral suasion, I am afraid, slightly resembles a sort of sanctimonious blackmail, Winifred. The combination of morality, religion, and yourself is too powerful for me to combat.... So if my choice must be between permitting morality to publicly besmirch this young girl's reputation, and affixing my signature to the agreement you suggest, I have no choice but to sign my name."
"Is that your decision?"
He nodded.
"Very well. My attorneys and a notary are in the next room with the papers necessary. If you would be good enough to step in a moment—"
He looked at her and laughed again: "Is there," he said, "anything lower than a woman?—or anything higher?"