"Davenant."
Ashley grasped the back of his chair as though about to spring up.
"What's he want a chance for? Chance for what?"
"I might have said: 'Why don't you give _her_ a chance?' She's half in
love with him--as it is."
"That's a lie. That's an infernal lie."
Ashley was on his feet. He pushed the chair from him, though he still
grasped it. He seemed to need it for support. Guion showed no
resentment, continuing to speak with feverish quiet.
"I think you'll find that the whole thing is predestined, Ashley.
Davenant's coming to my aid is what you might call a miracle. I don't
like to use the expression--it sounds idiotic--and canting--and all
that--but, as a matter of fact, he came--as an answer to prayer."
Ashley gave a snort of impatience. Guion warmed to his subject, dragging
himself farther up on the couch and throwing the coverlet from his
knees.
"Yes, of course; you'd feel that way about it--naturally. So should I if
anybody else were to tell me. But this is how it happened. One night,
not long ago, while you were on the water, I was so hard hit that
I--well, I actually--_prayed_. I don't know that I ever did before--that
is, not really--_pray_. But I did then; and I didn't beat about the
bush, either. I didn't stop at half measures; I asked for a miracle
right out and out--and I got it. The next morning Davenant came with his
offer of the money. You may make what you like out of that; but I
make--"
"I make this, by Jove; that you and he entered into a bargain that he
should supply the cash, and you should--"
"Wrong!" With his arm stretched to its full length he pointed his
forefinger up into Ashley's face. "Wrong!" he cried, again. "I asked him
if she had anything to do with it, and he said she hadn't."
"Pff! Would you expect him to acknowledge it? He might deny it till he
damned his soul with lies; but that wouldn't keep you and him from--"
"Before God, Ashley, I never thought of it till later. I know it looks
that way--the way you put it--but I never thought of it till later. I
dragged it out of him that he'd once been in love with her and had asked
her to marry him. That was a regular knock-down surprise to me. I'd had
no idea of anything of the kind. But he said he wasn't in love with her
any longer. I dare say he thinks he isn't; but--"
"Suppose he is; that needn't affect _her_--except as an impertinence. A
woman can defend herself against that sort of thing, by Jove!"
"It needn't affect her--only--only as a matter of fact--it does. It
appeals to her imagination. The big scale of the thing would impress
almost any woman. Look here, Ashley," he cried, with a touch of
hysteria; "it'll be better for us all in the long run if you'll give him
a chance. It'll be better for you than for any one else. You'll be well
out of it--any impartial person would tell you that. You must see it
yourself. You _do_ see it yourself. We're not your sort--"
But Ashley could stand it no longer. With a smothered, inarticulate
oath, he turned abruptly, and marched out of the room.