"I think I can," said Magnus.
"It will be a stiff job, though. To persuade two old men who don't wish to be persuaded! Nobody wants to see his schemes upset and his contracts broken, and with all the good-will in the world to me----"
"Wait!" said Magnus, rising--his unshaven, face had suddenly grown hard and ugly. "We have talked of you and Thora, and of the Factor and the Governor, but there is somebody who has not been too much mentioned--myself!"
"Don't suppose I am forgetting you, though," said Oscar. "I can never do that--and neither can Thora--never!"
"If I am to stand back, and take the consequences, there is something you owe me--you owe me your silence!"
"Assuredly," said Oscar.
"Whatever I do or say to-morrow," said Magnus, "you must never allow it to be seen that you know my object. Is it a promise?"
"Certainly!" said Oscar. "Silence is inevitable if I am to save Thora from her father's anger, and I will save her from that and from every sorrow."
Magnus walked to the door, and then, for the first time, Oscar looked at him.
"But what a brute I am--always talking of myself!" said Oscar, following his brother to the landing. "When everything is satisfactorily settled, what is to happen to you, Magnus?"