"Understand your true position—your legal position. You were your mother's illegitimate son—"
"I did it to protect her honor!"
"You mean—to hide her shame!"
"As you will. I was helpless, and I did it for the best."
Hugh Ritson's face grew dark.
"Was it best to be a perjured liar?" he said.
Paul gasped, but did not reply.
"Was it best to be a thief?"
Paul leaped to his feet.
"God, give me patience!" he muttered.