The Pagan Madonna

"Well?"

That was a good sign; she was ready to talk.

"I have come to repeat that offer."

"Mr. Cleigh, I have nothing to say so long as the key is on the wrong side

of the door."

Cleigh heard a chuckle from Cabin Two.

"Very well," he said. "Remember, I offered you liberty conditionally. If

you suffer inconveniences after to-night you will have only yourself to

thank."

"Have you calculated that some day you will have to let me go?"

"Yes, I have calculated on that."

"And that I shall go to the nearest authorities and report this action?"

"If you will think a moment," said Cleigh, his tone monotonously level,

"you will dismiss that plan for two reasons: First, that no one will

believe you; second, that no one will want to believe you. That's as near

as I care to put it. Your imagination will grasp it."

"Instantly!" cried the girl, hotly. "I knew you to be cold and hard, but I

did not believe you were a scoundrel--having known your son!"

"I have no son."

"Oh, yes, you have!"

"I disowned him. He is absolutely nothing to me."

"I do not believe that," came back through the cabin door.

"Nevertheless, it is the truth. The queer part is, I've tried to resurrect

the father instinct, and can't. I've tried to go round the wall--over it.

I might just as well try to climb the Upper Himalayas."

In Cabin Two the son stared at the white ceiling. It seemed to him that

all his vitals had been wrenched out of him, leaving him hollow, empty. He

knew his father's voice; it rang with truth.

"I offer you ten thousand."

"The key is still on the outside."

"I'm afraid to trust you."

"We understand each other perfectly," said Jane, ironically.

The son smiled. The sense of emptiness vanished, and there came into his

blood a warmth as sweet as it was strong. Jane Norman, angel of mercy. He

heard his father speaking again: "Since you will have it so, you will go to Hong-Kong?"

"To Patagonia if you wish! You cannot scare me by threatening me with

travel on a private yacht. I had the beads, it is true; but at this moment

I haven't the slightest idea where they are; and if I had I should not

tell you. I refuse to buy my liberty; you will have to give it to me

without conditions."