I do not go into that.
"Consider, my dear girl," he resumed; "you are young, and I am so old that it is as though I too were young now and had no experience--so we may talk.

Our life is a contest among men for money and for love; that is all success can bring us.

In older days men fought for that.

To-day we have modified life a little, and have other ways; but I fancy the game in which that certain lady figured was only one form of contest--it was a fight, the spoils to go to the victor." "Horrible! But you might have been the victor?
In that case, would you have loved her, would you have used her well, all your life, and hers ?" He drew back now with dignity.

"Madam, my position in later years defends me from necessity of answering you.