Galliard sprang out of the chair, his brows darkening, and his cheeks pale beyond their wont.
"Zounds, Hogan, do you mean that Joseph Ashburn was betraying me into this man's hands ?" "You have said it." "But--" Crispin stopped short.

The pallor of his face increased; it became ashen, and his eyes glittered as though a fever consumed him.

He sank back into his chair, and setting both hands upon the table before him, he looked straight at Hogan.
"But my son, Hogan, my son ?" he pleaded, and his voice was broken as no man had heard it yet.

"Oh, God in heaven!" he cried in a sudden frenzy.
"What hell's work is this ?" Behind his blue lips his teeth were chattering now.

His hands shook as he held them, still clenched, before him.