You know why and for what purpose." "But what do you know of my affairs ?" asked Rushbrook, quickly.
"Everything, and I know YOU, which is better.

Call it an investment if you like--for I know you will succeed--and let me share your profits.
Call it--if you please--restitution, for I am the miserable cause of your rupture with that man.

Or call it revenge if you like," she said with a faint smile, "and let me fight at your side against our common enemy! Please, Mr.Rushbrook, don't deny me this.

I have come three thousand miles for it; I could have sent it to you--or written--but I feared you would not understand it.

You are smiling--you will take it ?" "I cannot," said Rushbrook, gravely.
"Then you force me to go into the Stock Market myself, and fight for you, and, unaided by YOUR genius, perhaps lose it without benefiting you." Rushbrook did not reply.
"At least, then, tell me why you 'cannot.'" Rushbrook rose, and looking into her face, said quietly with his old directness:-- "Because I love you, Miss Nevil." A sudden instinct to rise and move away, a greater one to remain and hear him speak again, and a still greater one to keep back the blood that she felt was returning all too quickly to her cheek after the first shock, kept her silent.