He felt himself lost, toppling backward into an abyss, and the uselessness of his destruction made him physically sick.

For he need not have been there; he had not wished to come; he had well counted the danger to himself, and this one time in his life had gone to the cupola-room out of good-nature.

But Bareaud had been obstinate and Crailey had come away alone, hoping that Jefferson might follow.

And here he was, poor trapped rat, convicted and ruined because of a good action! At last he knew consistency to be a jewel, and that a greedy boy should never give a crust; that a fool should stick to his folly, a villain to his deviltry, and each hold his own; for the man who thrusts a good deed into a life of lies is wound about with perilous passes, and in his devious ways a thousand unexpected damnations spring.
Beaten, stunned, hang-jawed with despair, he returned her long, dumfounded gaze hopelessly and told the truth like an inspired dunce.
"I came--I came--to bring another man away," he whispered brokenly; and, at the very moment, several heavy, half-suppressed voices broke into eager talk overhead.
The white hand that held the candle wavered, and the shadows glided in a huge, grotesque dance.

Twice she essayed to speak before she could do so, at the same moment motioning him back, for he had made a vague gesture toward her.
"I am not faint.