“Good name!” echoed Howard, still more bitterly. “Where will that be in a day or two? No, I have no reason to respect my ‘good name.’ I own that I came in here dishonestly. Go on, then, and expose me.”
“I did not say I was going to expose you,” answered Ray.
“But you will,” said Howard. “What else should I expect from you?”
“I do not know that I will,” said Ray.
Howard looked up quickly.
“You mean to say that you—you—” then his face clouded again as he continued—“still, after all what difference could that make to me? Only a few days. You might as well do your worst.”
“Howard,” cried Ray, with determination, “I do not say yet what I will do, but of one thing you may be sure. I intend to have an explanation of this strange behavior of yours. If you were simply a common burglar I should turn you over to justice without more ado; but you are not, you are a classmate of mine, and, as such, your act is simply one of madness. No student in his senses would attempt a thing of this kind. I am convinced that it was a desperate act on your part, and that you were driven to it by some extraordinary cause. I am determined, therefore, before going any further, to know your reason for acting and talking in this strange manner.”
A curious expression came over Howard’s face as Ray spoke. This evidence of interest in him on Ray’s part was entirely unexpected by Howard, and wrought quite a change in him. Like some hunted animal, who has suddenly found a momentary resting place, his nervousness and agitation diminished, his manner became more composed, and his bitter tone gave way to one of passive dejection. He leaned his head heavily on his hands, and gazed despondently at the floor.
“You are right,” he said in a voice that was scarcely audible, “I was desperate. I would never have stooped to this if a chance of retaining my reputation was left. It was my last throw. Ruin is staring me in the face!”