"Then--you think she is better dead ?" she said.
He squared his great shoulders, and she felt infinitely small.

"If I could have followed my own inclination with that old woman," he said, "I should have given her a free pass long ago.

But--I am not authorized to distribute free passes.

On the contrary, it's my business to hang on to people to the bitter end, and not to let them through till they've paid for their liberty to the uttermost farthing." She glanced at him quickly.

Cynical as were his words, she was aware of a touch of genuine feeling somewhere.