“You force me to do so,” answered Jefferson hotly.  “I want to tell you that I am heartily ashamed of this whole affair and your connection with it, and since you refuse to make reparation in the only way possible for the wrong you and your associates have done Judge Rosmore—­that is by saving him in the Senate—­I think it only fair to warn you that I take back my word in regard to not marrying without your consent.  I want you to know that I intend to marry Miss Rossmore as soon as she will consent to become my wife, that is,” he added with bitterness, “if I can succeed in overcoming her prejudices against my family—­”

Ryder, Sr. laughed contemptuously.

“Prejudices against a thousand million dollars?” he exclaimed sceptically.

“Yes,” replied Jefferson decisively, “prejudices against our family, against you and your business practices.  Money is not everything.  One day you will find that out.  I tell you definitely that I intend to make Miss Rossmore my wife.”

Ryder, Sr. made no reply, and as Jefferson had expected an explosion, this unnatural calm rather startled him.  He was sorry he had spoken so harshly.  It was his father, after all.

“You’ve forced me to defy you, father,” he added.  “I’m sorry—–­”

Ryder, Sr. shrugged his shoulders and resumed his seat.  He lit another cigar, and with affected carelessness he said: 

“All right, Jeff, my boy, we’ll let it go at that.  You’re sorry—­ so am I. You’ve shown me your cards—­I’ll show you mine.”

His composed unruffled manner vanished.  He suddenly threw off the mask and revealed the tempest that was raging within.  He leaned across the desk, his face convulsed with uncontrollable passion, a terrifying picture of human wrath.  Shaking his fist at his son he shouted: 

“When I get through with Judge Rossmore at Washington, I’ll start after his daughter.  This time to-morrow he’ll be a disgraced man.  A week later she will be a notorious woman.  Then we’ll see if you’ll be so eager to marry her!”

“Father!” cried Jefferson.

“There is sure to be something in her life that won’t bear inspection,” sneered Ryder.  “There is in everybody’s life.  I’ll find out what it is.  Where is she to-day?  She can’t be found.  No one knows where she is—­not even her own mother.  Something is wrong—­the girl’s no good!”

Jefferson started forward as if to resent these insults to the woman he loved, but, realizing that it was his own father, he stopped short and his hands fell powerless at his side.

“Well, is that all?” inquired Ryder, Sr. with a sneer.

“That’s all,” replied Jefferson, “I’m going.  Good-bye.”

“Good-bye,” answered his father indifferently; “leave your address with your mother.”