No one spoke for some moments. Magnus was going through a terrible struggle. He was telling himself that, after all, these two had something to say for themselves. They had their excuse, their justification. They loved each other, and perhaps they could not avoid doing what they had done, while he--he who had thought himself the injured person--was really the one who was in the way.
When Thora's weeping ceased, Magnus looked up and said, in a voice that was pitifully hoarse and husky,
"So it's all over, it seems, and there's no help for it?"
No one spoke, and Magnus said again, "Well, a man's heart does not break, I suppose, so I daresay I shall get over it."
Still the others said nothing, and Magnus looked from Oscar to Thora and said, quite simply, "But what is to be done? If it is all over between Thora and me, what is to be done now?"
Neither of them answered him, so he turned to Thora and said, "Your father was to have the contract ready by the time of our return--can you ask him to destroy it?"
She did not reply. "You can't--I know you can't--your father would never forgive you--never."
Then he turned to Oscar: "The Governor has plans about the partnership--can you fulfil them if I should fail?--No? Is it impossible?"
Oscar gave no sign, and after a moment Magnus said, "Then I must be the first to move, I suppose. But perhaps that is only right, since I am the one who has to get out of the way."
"Don't say that, Magnus," cried Thora.