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Rh wait until he had come back and begun to establish his position in the world. That was the square thing. And Gordon was quick to agree with me!

[Thinking]

The square thing! but we must all be crooks where happiness is concerned! steal or starve!

[Then rather ironically]

And so Gordon told Nina he’d suddenly realized it wouldn’t be fair to her. But I gather he didn’t tell her it was your scruple originally?

No, I asked him to keep what I said strictly confidential.

[Thinking ironically]

Trusted to his honor again! old fox! poor Gordon!

But Nina suspects now that you—?

[Startled]

Yes. That’s exactly it. She knows in some queer way. And she acts toward me exactly as if she thought I had deliberately destroyed her happiness, that I had hoped for Gordon’s death and been secretly overjoyed when the news came!

[His voice is shaking with emotion]

And there you have it, Charlie—the whole absurd mess!

[Thinking with a strident accusation]

And it’s true, you contemptible !

[Then miserably defending himself]

No! I acted unselfishly for her sake!