"I am merely measuring the chances," he said steadily. "I am satisfied
with life as I find it; I do not believe that there is anything wrong
with me; I see at least the possibility of death and nothing to be
gained by submitting to an operation."
"Then," she said again wearily, "there is no way out."
"But there is! My way, not the one you have thought of. You have
stumbled upon a thing which you must forget; that is all. Give me the
free swing to finish Jim Galloway, to complete certain other
undertakings. Promise me that you will do this; in return I will
promise you not to . . . ."
And here he hesitated.
"Not to commit another theft?" She set the matter squarely before him.
"Can you promise that, Rod Norton? Could you keep the promise were it
once made?"
"Yes."
"No! You could not. You don't understand or you won't understand.
You would obey the impulse which would come just as certainly as the
sun will rise and set again. So I can neither accept your
promise . . . nor give you mine."
"You will tell what you have guessed?"
"Rather what I know! Even if you were my own brother. . . ."
"Or your lover?" he demanded, a challenge in his voice.
"Or my lover. For his sake if not for the sake of others."
For a little while he made no answer.
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