"
"And who is this one man?"
"Myself."
"You?--You?" said Carroll, advancing towards him. "Then this is
YOUR work!"
"Captain Carroll," said Prince, without moving, but drawing his
lips tightly together and putting his head on one side, "I don't
propose to have another scene like the one we had at our last
meeting. If you try on anything of that kind, I shall put the
whole matter into a lawyer's hands. I don't say that you won't
regret it; I don't say that I sha'nt be disappointed, too, for I
have been managing this thing purely as a matter of business, with
a view to profiting by it. It so happens that we can both work to
the same end, even if our motives are not the same. I don't call
myself an officer and a gentleman, but I reckon I've run this
affair about as delicately as the best of them, and with a d----d
sight more horse sense. I want this thing hushed up and
compromised, to get some control of the property again, and to
prevent it depreciating, as it would, in litigation; you want it
hushed up for the sake of the girl and your future mother-in-law.
I don't know anything about your laws of honor, but I've laid my
cards on the table for you to see, without asking what you've got
in your hand. You can play the game or leave the board, as you
choose." He turned and walked to the window--not without leaving
on Carroll's mind a certain sense of firmness, truthfulness, and
sincerity which commanded his respect.
"I withdraw any remark that might have seemed to reflect on your
business integrity, Mr.
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