"I do. You have laid this trap for me."
"Have you ever heard me lie to you?"
"No," said Dick.
"Then I tell you, as man to man, that until this afternoon I had no
suspicion that your feelings towards Viviette were deeper than those of
an elder brother."
Dick laughed bitterly. "You couldn't conceive a clod like me falling in
love. Well?"
"That's beside the question," said Austin. "I did not behave
dishonourably towards you. I came down. I fell in love with Viviette.
How could I help it? How could I help loving her? How could I help
telling her so? But she is young and innocent, and her heart is her own
yet. Tell me--man to man--dare you say that you have won it or that I
have won it?"
"What's the good of talking?" said Dick, relapsing into his sullen mood.
"If I go she is yours. But I won't go."
Austin rose again and laid his hand on his brother's arm.
"Dick. If I give her up, will you obey my conditions?"
"You give her up voluntarily? Why should you?"
"A damnable thing was done this afternoon," said Austin.
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