“I know it.”

“And she’s worth even this?”

“A thousand times more!  What are we?  Dust in the wind; dust in the wind.  But a woman like that is divine, Henry!”

Lord Nick swayed a little, setting himself in balance like an animal preparing for the leap.

“If it comes to the pinch, it is you who will die,” he said.

“You’ve no chance against me, Garry.  And I swear to you that I won’t weaken.  You prove that you don’t care for me.  You put another above me.  It’s my pride, my life, that you’d sacrifice to the whim of a girl!” His passion choked him.

“Are you ready?” said Donnegan.

“Yes!”

“Move first!”

“I have never formed the habit.”

“Nor I!  You fool, take what little advantage you can, because it won’t help you in the end.”

“You shall see.  I have a second sight, Henry, and it shows me you dead on the floor there, looking bigger than ever, and I see the gun smoking in my hand and my heart as dead as ashes!  Oh, Henry, if there were only some other way!”

They were both pale now.

“Aye,” murmured Lord Nick, “if we could find a judge.  My hand turns to lead when I think of fighting you, Garry.”

Perspiration stood on the face of Donnegan.

“Name a judge; I’ll abide by the decision.”

“Some man—­”

“No, no.  What man could understand me?  A woman, Henry!”

“Nell Lebrun.”

“The girl who loves you?  You want me to plead before her?”

“Put her on her honor and she’ll be as straight as a string with both of us.”

For a moment Donnegan considered, and at length:  “She loves you, Henry.  You have that advantage.  You have only to let her know that this is a vital matter to you and she’ll speak as you wish her to speak.”

“Nonsense.  You don’t know her.  You’ve seen yourself that no man can control her absolutely.”

“Make a concession.”

“A thousand, Garry, dear boy, if they’ll get us clear from this horrible mess.”

“Only this.  Leave The Corner for a few hours.  Give me until—­tonight.  Let me see Nelly during that time.  You’ve had years to work on her.  I want only this time to put my own case before her.”

“Thank heaven that we’re coming to see light and a way out!”

“Aye, Henry.”

The big man wiped his forehead and sighed in his relief.

“A minute ago I was ready—­but we’ll forget all this.  What will you do?  How will you persuade Nelly?  I almost think that you intend to make love to her, Garry!”

The little man turned paler still.

“It is exactly what I intend,” he said quietly.

The brow of Lord Nick darkened solemnly, and then he forced a laugh.

“She’ll be afraid to turn me down, Garry.  But try your own way.”  He bit his lips.  “Why, if you influence her that way—­do it.  What’s a fickle jade to me?  Nothing!”