"Suppose you had a son who was making a fool of himself ?" "Or a nephew ?" "Well, or a nephew ?" "Making a fool of himself over what ?" "A woman." "Nothing unusual in that.

But what kind of a woman ?" "A good woman, honest, too good by far for any man." "Oh!" "Suppose she was vastly his inferior in station, that marriage to him was merely a political contract?
What would you do ?" "I believe I begin to understand." "I am grateful for that." "But the risks you run!" "I believed them all over last night." "But you would dare handle him in this way ?" "When the devil drives, my friend!" The other smiled.

"I was born in the heart of a war.

I have taken so many risks that the sense of danger no longer has a keen edge.

But now that you understand, I am sure a soldier like yourself will pardon the blunder of last night." "Your nephew is an ungrateful wretch." "What ?" coldly.
"He knew all along who I was.