"How?
What do you mean by sacrifice ?" "I know it'll shock your delicate self-respect," he said; "but what was I to do?
Things looked so bad.

The receiver----" (as usual, the name stuck in his throat, and he began afresh).

"There was a lot of talk; the reporters were after me already; there was the trouble and all about the Mexican business; and I got scared right out, and I guess I lost my head.

You weren't there, you see, and that was my temptation." I did not know how long he might thus beat about the bush with dreadful hintings, and I was already beside myself with terror.

What had he done?
I saw he had been tempted; I knew from his letters that he was in no condition to resist.