There was no resentment in the tired voice, only unflagging determination.

Nap’s hold slowly relaxed.  “You don’t trust me then?”

“It’s your methods I don’t trust, dear fellow, not your motives.  I’d trust them to perdition.”

“But not my—­honour?” Nap’s lips twisted over the word.

Lucas hesitated.  “I believe you would be faithful to your own code,” he said at length.

“But you don’t consider that to trick a man who trusted me would be against that code?”

Again Lucas hesitated, and in the silence Nap straightened himself and stood waiting, stern, implacable, hard as granite.

“Don’t do violence to yourself,” he said cynically.

On the instant Lucas spoke, in his voice a tremor that was almost passionate.  “Boney—­Boney, old chap, have I wronged you?  God knows I’ve tried to be just.  But are you straight?  Are you honest?  I’d give my soul to be able to trust you.  Only—­dear fellow, forgive me—­I can’t!”

Nap’s hands clenched.  “Why not?” he said.

“Because,” very slowly and painfully Lucas made reply, “I know that you are trying to blind me.  I know that you are sacrificing yourself—­and another—­in order to deceive me.  You are doing it to save me pain, but—­before God, Boney—­you are torturing me in the doing far more than you realise.  I’d sooner die ten times over than endure it.  I can bear most things, but not this—­not this!”

Silence followed the words, a silence that was vital with many emotions.  Nap stood upright against the lamplight.  He scarcely seemed to breathe, and yet in his very stillness there was almost a hint of violence.  He did not attempt to utter a word.

Lucas also lay awhile without speaking, as if exhausted.  Then at length he braced himself for further effort.  “It seems to me there’s only one way out, Boney,” he said gently.  “It’s no manner of use your trying to deceive me any longer.  I happen to know what brought you back, and I’m thankful to know it.  After all, her happiness comes first with both of us, I guess.  That’s why I was so almighty pleased to see you in the first place.  That’s why it won’t hurt me any to let her go to you.”

Nap made a sharp movement and came out of his silence.  “Luke, you’re mad!”

“No, Boney, no!  I’m saner than you are.  When a fellow spends his life as I do, he has time to look all round things.  He can’t help knowing.  And I’m not a skunk.  It never was my intention to stand between her and happiness.”

“Happiness!” Harshly Nap echoed the word; he almost laughed over it.  “Don’t you know that she only tolerates me for your sake?  She wouldn’t stay within a hundred miles of me if it weren’t for you.”

“Oh, shucks, Boney!” A faint smile touched the worn face on the pillow.  “I know you hurt her infernally.  But she will forgive you that—­women do, you know—­though I guess she would have forgiven you easier if she hadn’t loved you.”