Keith stood up, with a sudden flame in his eyes.
"Go on, I say. If you do not, I will put you out. It is as much as I can do to keep my hands off you. You could not say a word that I would believe on any subject."
"I will swear to this."
"Your oath would add nothing to it."
Plume waited, and after a moment's reflection began in a different key.
"Mr. Keith, I did not come here to sell you anything--"
"Yes, you did."
"No, I did not. I did not come--only for that. If I could have sold it, I don't say I wouldn't, for I need money--the Lord knows how much I need it! I have not a cent in the world to buy me a mouthful to eat--or drink. I came to tell you something that only I know--"
"I have told you that I would not believe you on oath," began Keith, impatiently.
"But you will, for it is true; and I tell it not out of love for you (though I never disliked--I always liked you--would have liked you if you'd have let me), but out of hate for that--. That man has treated me shamefully--worse than a yellow dog! I've done for that man what I wouldn't have done for my brother. You know what I've done for him, Mr. Keith, and now when he's got no further use for me, he kicks me out into the street and threatens to give me to the police if I come to him again."