The Fighting Chance

And all that afternoon, having taken to his room on pretence of neuralgia, he lay sprawled on his bed, thinking, thinking. Not that he meant harm to anybody, he told himself very frequently. He had, of course, information which certain degraded men might use in a contemptible way, but he, Mortimer, did not resemble such men in any particular. All he desired was to do Plank a good turn. There was nothing disreputable in doing a wealthy man a favour. … And God knew a wealthy man's gratitude was necessary to him at that very moment--gratitude substantially acknowledged. … He liked Plank--wished him well; that was all right, too; but a man is an ass who doesn't wish himself well also. … Two birds with one stone. … Three! for he hated Quarrier. Four! … for he had no love for his wife. … Besides, it would teach Leila a wholesome lesson--teach her that he still counted; serve her right for her disgusting selfishness about Plank.

No, there was to be nothing disreputable in his proceedings; that he would be very careful about. … Probably Major Belwether might express his gratitude substantially if he, Mortimer, went to him frankly and volunteered not to mention to Quarrier the scene he had witnessed between Sylvia Landis and Stephen Siward at three o'clock in the morning in the corridor; and if, in playful corroboration, he displayed the cap and rain-coat and the big fan, all crushed, which objects of interest he had discovered later in the bay-window. … Yes, probably Major Belwether would be very grateful, because he wanted Quarrier in the family; he needed Quarrier in his business. … But, faugh! that was close enough to blackmail to rub off! … No! … No! He wouldn't go to Belwether and promise any such thing! … On the contrary, he felt it his duty to inform Quarrier! Quarrier had a right to know what sort of a girl he was threatened with for life! … A man ought not to let another man go blindly into such a marriage. … Men owed each other something, even if they were not particularly close friends. … And he had always had a respect for Quarrier, even a sort of liking for him--yes, a distinct liking! … And, anyhow, women were devils! and it behooved men to get together and stand for one another!

Quarrier would give her her walking papers damned quick! … And, in her humiliation, is there anybody mad enough to fancy that she wouldn't snap up Plank in such a fix? … And make it look like a jilt for Quarrier? … But Plank must do his part on the minute; Plank must step up in the very nick of time; Plank, with his millions and his ambitions, was bound to be a winner anyway, and Sylvia might as well be his pilot and use his money. … And Plank would be very, very grateful--very useful, a very good friend to have. … And Leila would learn at last that he, Mortimer, had cut his wisdom teeth, by God!