Power!--that was his
ambition now. First he had wished to have an independent income in order to
be free. When he had achieved that, it was at the sacrifice of his mental
freedom. And now, with the clearness of self-knowledge which only men of
great ability have, he knew that the one cause for which he would make
sacrifices was--himself.
"Of what are you thinking so gloomily?" she interrupted.
"Oh--I--let me see--well, I was thinking what a fraud I am; and that I
wished I could dupe myself as completely as I can dupe--"
"Me?" she laughed. "Oh, we're all frauds--shocking frauds. I wouldn't have
you see me as I really am for anything."
Although her remark was a commonplace, of small meaning, as he knew, he got
comfort out of it, so desperately was he casting about for some
consolation.
"That's true, my dear," he said. "And I wish that you liked the kind of a
fraud I am as well as I like the kind of a fraud you are."
XXIV.
"MR. VALIANT-FOR-TRUTH."
Stokely came rushing into his office the next morning. "Good God, old man,"
he exclaimed, "What's the meaning of this attack on the coal roads?"
Howard flushed with resentment, not at what Stokely said, but at his tone.
"Now, don't get on your high horse. I don't think you understand.
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