Wingrave was bleeding these brokers for hundreds of
thousands of dollars, and the boy came and asked to be let off by
paying his whole fortune to escape being hammered. Wingrave refused. I
believe if the boy hadn't just been married, he'd have blown his
brains out!"
Lovell laughed.
"I don't envy you your job," he remarked. "Is there nothing to set
down on the credit side of the ledger?"
"Not much," Aynesworth answered. "He is a fine sportsman, and he saved
my life in the Rockies, which makes me feel a bit uncomfortable
sometimes. He has a sense of justice, for he heard of this mine from a
man in prison, and he has kept accounts showing the fellow's share
down to the last halfpenny. But I have never yet known him to speak a
kindly word or do a kindly deed. He seems intent upon carrying out to
the letter his own principles--to make as many people as possible
suffer for his own broken life. Now he is back here, a millionaire,
with immense power for good or for evil, I am almost afraid of him. I
wouldn't be Lady Ruth or her husband for something."
Lovell smoked thoughtfully for a time.
"Wingrave was always a little odd," he remarked, "but I never thought
that he was a bad chap."
"Go and see him now!" Aynesworth said. "Tell me if you think he wears
a mask or whether he is indeed what he seems."
The hall porter entered the room and addressed Aynesworth.
"Gentleman called for you, sir," he announced.
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