"Surely you owe it to me!" "No, I have buried the past," said Mr.Clendon.

"Let it lie.

But I will tell you why I have forced myself to come to you--yes, forced myself, Talbot, for I knew that it was better that I should remain as one dead." "Yes, tell me," said the Marquess, with feverish eagerness.

"If there is anything I can do, if you have decided to stick to your resolution, if there is nothing I can say that will persuade you to come forward----" "There is nothing," Mr.Clendon assured him calmly.
The Marquess sighed heavily.

"Then you must let me--how shall I put it ?--provide for you, take care of your future.