"'Never,' said he, smiling. 'I promised, you know,'
"'I release you from your promise.'
"'Even so, I can't tell you.'
"'Adrian,' said I, looking him full in the face, 'Milton Leffert is dead.'
"'I'm sorry to hear it,' said he.
"I blazed up at that. 'Stop lying to me,' I cried, 'and tell me what was in that telegram!'
"He confessed at last that it was from Jane Leffert saying that her brother was dangerously ill and asking me to come to him if possible or at least send some message. I knew well enough what it must have been, but I wanted to wring it from his lips....
"'Well, have you nothing to say to me?' he asked.
"I didn't answer for some time—I couldn't. To tell the truth I hadn't been thinking of him. At last I turned on him. 'You contemptible creature,' I managed to say.
"'Why?' he whined. 'You've no right to call me names. You made me do it. If you're sorry now it's your own fault.'