It would
be altogether too low-down to throw suspicion upon a man without the
slightest ground. Potts is not exactly a lofty-souled creature. In fact,
he is pronouncedly a bounder, though I confess I did borrow money of
him; but I'd borrow money of the devil when I'm in certain moods. A man
may be a bounder, however, without being a criminal. No, I have thought
this thing out as far as I can, and I've made my mind up that I've got
to face it myself. I've been a fool, ah, such a fool!" A shudder shook
his frame. "Oh, Dunn, old man, I don't mind for myself, I can go out
easily enough, but it's my little sister! It will break her heart, and
she has no one else; she will have to bear it all alone."
"What do you mean, Cameron?" asked Dunn sharply.
Cameron sprang to his feet. "Let it go," he cried. "Let it go for
to-night, anyway." He seized a decanter which stood all too ready to his
hand, but Dunn interposed.
"Listen to me, old man," he said, in a voice of grave and earnest
sadness, while he pushed Cameron back into a chair. "We have a
desperately hard game before us, you and I,--this is my game, too,--and
we must be fit; so, Cameron, I want your word that you will play up for
all that's in you; that you will cut this thing out," pointing to the
decanter, "and will keep fit to the last fighting minute.
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