Your friend, whose name must remain a secret, does not love you--don't ever think that--but--" Then he hesitated as though to watch the effect on Fairchild's face.
There was none; Robert had masked it.

In time the words went on: "But she does think enough of you to want to make you happy.

She has recently done a thing which gives her a great deal of power in one direction.

In another, she has connections who possess vast money powers and who are looking for an opening here in the west.

Now,--" he made a church steeple out of his fingers and leaned back in his chair, staring vacuously at the ceiling, "if you will say the word and do a thing which will relieve her of a great deal of embarrassment, I am sure that she can so arrange things that life will be very easy for you henceforth." "I 'm becoming interested." "In the first place, she is engaged to be married to a very fine young man.