"I think he would be reasonable."
"He wouldn't. He wouldn't be reasonable. He would be furious. . . ."
"I can make or break him, Hildegarde. And he knows it. He won't go against me."
His voice was at a flat level. It was as if by some trick of ventriloquism the golden statue had been made to speak.
Hildegarde struggled desperately with a sense of fright. Her lips were dry. "You know I can't marry you."
"Why not? If you say 'no,' I shall wash my hands of your father's affairs."
"It is 'no,' of course."
"With your father taking the consequences?"
"He'll be glad to take them."
"Will he? Well, we'll ask him. This thing has got to be settled tonight, Hildegarde. We'll ride now to the house and find Carew and put the question before him."
