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 claimed, quickly. "Good statement of the case. Now, Morton, I can see that since Miss Ford's name has been connected with yours, you want to protect her, though she don't deserve it—wretched little yellow cat!"

"Yes," Morton nodded, gravely. "I would like to save her, if it's possible."

"If she takes it all back about Victoria—"

"Publicly," cut in Mrs. Durham.

"Of course, of course!" bellowed Courncey. "Whoever thought of anything else?"

"I fancy she will do that, but we mustn't make it too difficult—she's proud—"

"Vain!" sniffed Mrs. Durham.

Morton took no notice. "Let us keep all this quite to ourselves; don't let a word of it get out to the newspapers, or in common talk. Miss Ford shall own herself mistaken, and I have no doubt she will give Valdeck as the authority for her former assertions. Then we can push him to the wall all the easier, and we need have no mercy!"

There was a grimness in the click of his jaw as he shut his teeth that boded ill for the suave 255