Northway stood near the window.  He had eaten—­luncheon was still on the table—­and had been smoking to calm his nerves, but at the sight of Quarrier he became agitated They inspected each other.  Denzil’s impulse was to annihilate his contemptible enemy with fierceness of look and word; and in Northway jealousy fought so strongly with prudence that a word of anger would have driven him to revengeful determination.  But a few moments of silence averted this danger.  Quarrier said to himself that there was no use in half measures.  He had promised Lilian to do his best, and his own desire pointed to the same end.  Swallowing his gall, he spoke quietly.

“Mr. Northway, we can’t talk as if we were friends; but I must remember that you have never intentionally done me any wrong—­that it is I who am immediately to blame for this state of things.  I hope you will talk it over with me”——­

His voice failed, but the first step had been taken.  He sat down, motioning the other to a chair.

“I can’t allow my wife to live any longer in this way,” began the adversary, with blundering attempt at dignified speech.

“My wife” was like a blow to Denzil; he flushed, started, yet controlled himself.  What Mrs. Wade had told him of Northway’s characteristics came into his mind, and he saw that this address might be mere bluster.

“It’s very natural for you to speak in that way; but there is no undoing what has happened.  I must say that at once, and as firmly as possible.  We may talk of how I can compensate you for—­for the injury; but of nothing else.”

He ended with much mental objurgation, which swelled his throat.

“You can’t compensate a man,” returned Northway, “for an injury of this kind.”

“Strictly speaking, no.  But as it can’t be helped—­as I wronged you without knowing you—­I think I may reasonably offer to do you whatever good turn is in my power.  Please to tell me one thing.  Have you spoken to any one except Mrs. Wade of what you have discovered?”

“No—­to no one.”

It might be true or not.  Denzil could only hope it was, and proceed on that assumption.

“I am sure I may trust your word,” he said, beginning to use diplomacy, with the immediate result that Northway’s look encouraged him.  “Now, please tell me another thing, as frankly.  Can I, as a man of some means and influence, offer you any acceptable service?”

There was silence.  Northway could not shape a reply.

“You have been in commerce, I think?” proceeded the other.  “Should you care to take a place in some good house of business on the Continent, or elsewhere abroad?  I think it’s in my power to open a way for you such as you would not easily make by your own exertions.”

The listener was suffering.  But for one thing, this offer would have tempted him strongly; but that one thing made it idle for him to think of what was proposed.  To-day or to-morrow Quarrier would be bargain made with reference to the future must collapse. exposed by his plotting enemies, and thereupon any If he were to profit by Quarrier at all, it must needs be in the shape of a payment which could not be recovered.