A swiftly augmented concern gathered on Stephen Jannan’s countenance.  “You were walking with Susan,” he repeated increduously.  “Yes,” Jasper asserted, with a sharp inner dread.  “You don’t know, but I want to marry her.”  Stephen Jannan faced him with an exclamation of anger.  “You want to marry her, and, in consequence, drag her, Susan, into the dirtiest affair the city is like to know for years.  Susan Brundon, with her Academy; all she has, all her labour, destroyed, ruined, pulled to pieces by slanderous tongues!  By God, Jasper, what a beast you look!  The most delicate woman, alive, the one farthest from just this sort of muck, being sworn in the Mayor’s office, testifying in an obscene murder case, before the Sheriff and Constable, and heaven knows what police and vilely curious!”

A sickening feeling of utter destruction seized on Jasper Penny, a dropping of his entire being from the heights of yesterday to the last degradation.  He felt the blood leave his heart and pound dizzily in his brain, and then recede, followed by an icy coldness, a wavering of the commonplace objects of the room.  He raised his fingers to his collar, stared with burning eyes at Stephen Jannan.  “Everything spoiled,” the latter said again; “her pupils will positively be taken from her at once by all the nice females.  Her name will be pronounced, smiled over, in every despicable quarter of the city, printed in the daily sheets.  I—­I can’t forgive you for this.  Susan, our especial joy!”

Jasper Penny saw in a flash, as vivid and remorseless as a stab of lightning, that this was all true.  The fatality of the past, sweeping forward in a black, strangling tide, had overtaken not only himself but Susan, too; Susan, in soft merino, in an azure velvet cloak; her face against his.  “I shall go away at once,” he said hoarsely.  “I’ll never appear, and they can think what they will.  Then there will be no necessity for her to come forward.  She shall be spared that, no matter what it costs.”

“Romantic and youthful folly,” Jannan declared; “loud-sounding and useless.  How little you understand Susan—­immediately it is known Culser was killed between seven and nine, whether you stay or go, she will come forward with the truth, free you from any suspicion.  I tell you every detail will be canvassed, familiar to the boys on the street.  A man important as yourself, with all your industries and money, and such salacity, together with Susan Brundon, will make a pretty story.  If I had a chance, Jasper, I’m almost certain I’d sacrifice you without a quiver.  How could you?  Susan Brundon!  Never telling her—­”

“On the contrary, she knew everything.  I am not so low as you seem to think.”

“That has no importance now!” Stephen Jannan exclaimed impatiently.  “All that matters is to make it as easy as possible for her, I have, I think, enough position, influence, to keep the dregs out.  But there will be enough present, even then.  Damnable insinuations, winks, cross-questioning.”