If you are ambitious, it is the surest of all stepping
stones into the House. After that, your career is in your own hands. I
offer you such a post."
"I am exceedingly obliged to you," Aynesworth replied, "but I scarcely
understand."
"I have influence," Barrington said, "which I have never cared to use
on my own account. I am willing to use it on yours. You have only to
say the word, and the matter is arranged."
"I can only repeat," Aynesworth said, "that I am exceedingly obliged
to you, Mr. Barrington, but I cannot understand why you should
interest yourself so much on my behalf."
"If you wish me to speak in plain words," Barrington said, "I will do
so. I ask you to aid me as a man of honor in the restoration of those
letters to my wife."
"I cannot do it," Aynesworth said firmly. "I am sorry that you should
have come to me with such an offer. It is quite out of the question!"
Barrington held out his hand.
"Do not decide too hastily," he said. "Remember this. Sir Wingrave
Seton had once an opportunity of putting those letters to any use he
may have thought fit. He ignored it. At that time, their tenor and
contents might easily have been explained. After all these years, that
task would be far more difficult. I say that no man has a right to
keep a woman's letters back from her years after any friendship there
may have been between them is over. It is not the action of an
honorable man.
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