“My dear, I’m the most tender-hearted of men.  Of course I shall say nothing, if you prefer, for I am subservient to your commands in all things.  But calm yourself.  What is done cannot be undone.”

In more even tones Mrs. Gerard said, “You seem to think the matter is ended, but it isn’t.  Natalie will never allow us to continue this way, and it isn’t just to her that we should.  We can’t go on, Curtis.”

“You mean I must marry you?”

She nodded.

He rose and paced the room before answering.  “I always supposed you understood my views on that subject.  Believe me, they are unalterable, and in no way the result of a pose.”

“Nevertheless, for my sake and Natalie’s you will do it.  I can’t lose the one thing I love best in the world.”

“It would seem that Natalie has filled your head with silly notions,” he exclaimed, impatiently.

“She has awakened me.  I have her life to consider as well as my own.”

“We are all individuals, supreme in ourselves, responsible only to ourselves.  We must all live our own lives; she cannot live yours, nor you hers.”

“I am familiar with your arguments,” Mrs. Gerard said, wearily, “but I have thought this all out and there is no other way.”

He frowned in his most impressive manner and his chest swelled ominously.

“I will not be coerced.  You know I can’t be bullied into a thing.  I deny that you have any right to demand—­”

“I’m not demanding anything.  I merely ask this—­this favor, the first one I have ever asked.  You see, my pride is crumbling.  Don’t answer now; let’s wait until we are both calmer.  The subject came up—­at least she approached it, by asking about the coal claims.  She is worried about them.”

“Indeed?”

“She was told by a friend in the Land Office that our rights had been forfeited.  I assured her—­”

“I refused to heed the absurd rulings of the Department, if that is what she refers to.”

“Then we—­have lost?” Mrs. Gerard’s pallor increased.

“Technically, yes!  In reality I shall show that our titles were good and that our patents should issue.”

“But”—­the woman’s bloodless fingers were tightly interlaced—­ “all I have, all Natalie has, is in those claims.”

“Yes!  And it would require another fortune the size of both to comply with the senseless vagaries of the Interior Department and to protect your interests.  I grew weary of forever sending good hard-earned dollars after bad ones, merely because of the shifting whim of some theorist five thousand miles away.”

“Then I am afraid—­” Mrs. Gerard’s voice trailed out miserably.  “It is all we have, and you told me—­”

Gordon broke in irritably:  “My dear Gloria, spare me this painful faultfinding.  If I can win for you, I shall do so, and then you will agree that I acted wisely.  If I lose—­it will merely be the luck of the average investor.  We played for big returns, and of course the risks were great.”