He was handing her down from the engine step and she went back in a word to the former contention.

“You haven’t promised me yet that you will not resign under fire—­you are under fire, you know.”

“Am I?”

“Brother thinks you are.”

Once more he took the pessimistic view.

“Your brother isn’t losing any sleep over the Pacific Southwestern situation.  You said he was in England, didn’t you?”

“I said he was in London when he wrote.”

“London is a long way off:  and what I do must be done to-day or to-morrow.  Mr. North will force the fighting, now that your uncle is on the ground, and your brother safely on the opposite side of the earth.  And I can’t afford to fight this time, Miss Alicia.”

“Why can’t you?”

They were walking slowly back toward the Nadia when he said:  “Because a victory would cost me more than I am willing to pay.  There is no longer room in this service for Mr. North and me.  If we come to blows one of us will have to go.”

“I can understand that,” she said quietly.

“And to obliterate Mr. North, I shall be obliged to efface—­your uncle.”

She caught her breath.

“Mr. Ford, you have intimated that Mr. North isn’t an honest man.  Do you ask me to believe that Uncle Sidney is his accomplice?”

“He is not, knowingly.  But he will stand or fall with the man he has made.  I should have to ride him down before I could get at North.”

Her lip curled and the straight-browed little frown came again.  “There is no such thing as mercy in business, is there, Mr. Ford?  My uncle is an old man and his presidency means more to him—­”

“I understand that perfectly,” said Ford soberly.  “That is why I prefer to step down and out and let some other man have the glory of finishing the extension.”

She looked up quickly.

“Would you do that for Uncle Sidney?  He hasn’t been very lenient with you, has he?”

Ford ignored the query.

“He is your uncle, Miss Alicia; and I’d do it for your sake or not at all.”

They had reached the steps of the private car, and Frisbie was waiting with evident impatience for a word with Ford.  Miss Adair’s eyes signaled emotion, and Ford thought it was resentment.  But her parting word was not resentful; it was merely a repetition.

“Go to Mr. Frisbie,” she said from the car step; “he is waiting for you.”  And then:  “Remember; whatever happens, you must not resign—­not even if Uncle Sidney asks you to.”