have to. For do you not see, my very dear sir, that if that book comes out with my name on it before the wedding, Chloë will refuse to marry me. And quite right too. What's more, nothing would induce me to marry a girl who would be willing to marry the author of your beastly tale. So if she didn't break our engagement, I should have to. But in either case, my bargain with you would go phut. So you see that you'll have to trust me, and that's all there is to it. But you needn't be afraid. I am not the man to break a bargain. In business I am the soul of probity. It is understood that if you do your part I will do mine, at whatever cost to myself. The odium of having written your novel shall rest upon me, not only when it is published, but for ever after. No living soul save us two shall ever know the truth. And now it only
