I will even admit that in my younger days I was
prejudiced against you. That has passed away. You have been all
your days a bold and unscrupulous schemer, but ends have at any
rate been worthy ones. To-day I am able to regard you with
feelings of friendliness. You are the husband of my dear sister,
and for years I know that you made her very happy. I ask you, will
you believe in this statement of my attitude towards you?"
"I do not for a single moment doubt it," Mr. Sabin answered.
"You will regard the advice which I am going to offer as
disinterested?"
"Certainly!"
"Then I offer it to you earnestly, and with my whole heart. Take
the next steamer and go back to America."
"And leave Lucille? Go without making any effort to see her?"
"Yes."
Mr. Sabin was for a moment very serious indeed. The advice given
in such a manner was full of forebodings to him. The lines from
the corners of his mouth seemed graven into his face.
"Felix," he said slowly, "I am sometimes conscious of the fact that
I am passing into that period of life which we call old age. My
ambitions are dead, my energies are weakened. For many years I have
toiled--the time has come for rest. Of all the great passions
which I have felt there remains but one--Lucille. Life without her
is worth nothing to me.
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