But it was a pity that the crash had come so soon; fortune might have given him at least a short interval of grace.

Haviland was probably in a cold rage at the discovery of the fraud, and Gray could only hope that he wouldn't get noisy over it, for scenes were always annoying and sometimes they ran to unfortunate lengths.
There was a curious brightness to the imposter's eyes, a reckless, mocking smile upon his lips, when he stepped into the manager's office and stood beside the desk.

He declined Haviland's invitation to be seated--it seemed more fitting that a man should take sentence on his feet.
"Have you seen the Post ?" the manager inquired.
"No." Haviland handed him a copy of the leading afternoon paper, and Gray's eyes flashed to the headline of an article reading: CALVIN GRAY, HERO OF SENSATIONAL EXPLOITS, IN DALLAS ADVENTURES READ LIKE PAGE OF ROMANCE FAMOUS FINANCIER ADMITS LARGE OIL INTERESTS BEHIND HIM From the opening paragraph Gray judged that he had impressed the reporter even more deeply than he had supposed, but he took no satisfaction there from, for Haviland was saying: "I've read the whole story, but I want you to tell me something more about yourself." "What do you wish to know ?" "Were you in France ?" Over the visitor's face there came a subtle change.

Whereas, upon entering, he had worn an expression of careless defiance, now he appeared to harden in every fiber and to go on guard.
"I have been many times in France." "I mean during the war.

Did you serve ?" There was a pause.