For the one time in his life all the assumption of boldness, worn for other eyes, broke and fell away from him, leaving him nakedly and starkly dumbfounded. He presented the pale and distressed aspect of a whipped prize fighter, reeling groggily against the ropes, and defenseless against attack.
It was a swift transformation from audacious boldness to something which seemed abject, or that at least was the aspect which presented itself to Martin Harrison and his aides, but back of it all lay reasons into which they could not see.
It was no crumbling and softening of battle metal that had wrought this astonishing metamorphosis but a thing much nearer to the man's heart. At that moment there departed from his mind the whole urgent call of the duel between business enemies--and he saw only the woman for whom he had sought and whom he had not found.
In the cumulative force and impact of their heart-breaking sequence there rushed back on him all the memories that had been haunting him, intensified to unspeakable degree at the sight of her face--and if he thought of the business awaiting them at all, it was only with a stabbing pain of realization that he had met Glory again only in the guise of an enemy.
Harrison gave him one contemptuous glance and remarked brutally:
"Madam, this gentleman was to talk with you, but he seems scarcely able to conduct any affair of moment."
Glory was looking at the broken man, too, and into her splendid eyes stole a pity that had tenderness back of it.
Old memories came in potent waves, and she closed her lids for a moment as though against a painful glare, but with quick recovery she spoke.
"It is imperative, gentlemen, that I have a few words first--and alone--with Mr. Spurrier."
"If you insist, but----" Harrison's shoulders stiffened. "But we do not guarantee that we shall abide by his declarations."
"I do insist--and I think you will find that it is I who am in the position to dictate terms."
Harrison gave a sharply imperative gesture toward the door through which the others filed out, followed by the chief himself, leaving the two alone.
Then John Spurrier rose, and supported himself by hands pressed upon the table top. He stood unsteadily at first and failed in his effort to speak. Then, with difficulty, he straightened and swept his two hands out in a gesture of surrender.