"Paid? Who--who's to pay 'em?"
"I will."
"You!--you?"
"Yes," nodded Barnabas, "on a condition."
Ronald Barrymaine sank back upon the couch, staring at Barnabas with
eyes wide and with parted lips; then, leaned suddenly forward,
sobered by surprise.
"Ah-h!" said he slowly. "I think I begin to understand. You have
seen my--my sister."
"Yes."
"Do you know--how much I owe?"
"No, but I'll pay it,--on a condition."
"A condition?" For a long moment the passionate dark eyes met and
questioned the steady gray; then Barrymaine's long lashes fluttered
and fell.
"Of course it would be a loan. I--I'd pay you back," he muttered.
"At your own convenience."
"And you would advance the money at once?"
"On a condition!"
Once again their eyes met, and once again Barrymaine's dropped; his
fingers clenched and unclenched themselves, he stirred restlessly,
and, finally, spoke.
"And your condition. Is it--Cleone?"
"No!" said Barnabas vehemently.
"Then, what is it?"
"That from this hour you give up brandy and Mr. Chichester--both
evil things."
"Well, and what more,--what--for yourself? How can this benefit you?
Come, speak out,--what is your real motive?"
"The hope that you may, some day, be worthy of your sister's love."
"Worthy, sir!" exclaimed Barrymaine, flushing angrily. "Poverty is
no crime!"
"No; but there remain brandy and Mr. Chichester."
"Ha! would you insult m-my friend?"
"Impossible. You have no friend, unless it be Mr. Smivvle here."
"Now by heaven," began Barrymaine passionately, "I tell you--"
"And I tell you that these are my only conditions," said Barnabas.
"Accept them and you may begin a new life. It is in your power to
become the man you might be, to regain the place in men's esteem
that you have lost, for if you are but sufficiently determined,
nothing is impossible."
Now as he spoke, Barnabas beheld Barrymaine's drooping head uplifted,
his curving back grew straight, and a new light sprang into his eyes.
"A new life," he muttered, "to come back to it all, to outface them
all after their cursed sneers and slights! Are you sure you don't
promise too much,--are you sure it's not too late?"
"Sure and certain!" said Barnabas. "But remember the chance of
salvation rests only with and by yourself, after all," and he
pointed to the half-emptied bottle. "Do you agree to my conditions?"
"Yes, yes, by God I do!"
"Then, friend, give me your hand. To-day I go to see Jasper Gaunt."
So Ronald Barrymaine, standing square upon his feet, gave Barnabas
his hand. But even in that moment Barnabas was conscious that the
door had opened softly behind him, saw the light fade out of
Barrymaine's eyes, felt the hand grow soft and lax, and turning about,
beheld Mr. Chichester smiling at them from the threshold.