dreadful thing, tell me, and I have made all arrangements
that you can escape at once. I've a car waiting in the lane. I 'phoned
for it at the garage by the station only a bare two hours ago--and I had
a difficulty, too, as you can imagine, with the whole house full of
policemen and our every action watched. But I was desperate--desperate!
I couldn't see you arrested for _that_! And so, while there is yet
time.... Oh, don't you see? It's your liberty I'm offering you! And we
could start away together and make our lives afresh in a new country.
Ross, Ross, don't you hear, don't you _see_? Every minute is precious
while that man is in command at the Castle. He looks a fool--but he is a
clever fool at that. I don't trust him. I'm not a weak woman, Ross, to
be afraid of a murderer--pshaw! what is that? If a man has need to do
it, and the courage, I can even _admire_! And I love you! Don't speak
now, Ross--just come, and let us slip away together. In this wild
country we can soon be lost--slip down the coast and get away on the
first steamer to--anywhere! I've money on me--see here. Plenty of it! I
sent Hilda down to draw it all out of the bank this morning. (Thank God
for the comfort of your telephone!) She'd do anything for me--that
girl--since I caught her stealing Cynthia's pearl necklace, and
threatened her if she didn't return it to tell the whole sordid story to
the family. And she swore to help me any time I needed her. So come,
Ross--come now--come quickly! but come--come!"

Her whispered words trailed off into silence at last, and Cleek,
catching his breath for a moment at the whole audacious plot which she
had laid so successfully, could not help but admire, even as he felt the
rush of contempt that a man must feel for every woman who can cheapen
herself thus in his eyes. But here was a pretty kettle of fish indeed!
What to say to her? what to do? It took time to think, so he merely
caught her hand and squeezed it, and felt all sorts of a beast for
making such use of her confession as to lead her on to even deeper
things.

She reached a hand out at the pressure of his fingers, and wound it
about his neck.

"You'll come?" she whispered close against his ear.

He shrugged his shoulders. The issue must be faced, and faced now.

"Let's get out of this danger-zone, where we can talk in a little more
comfort and less fear of our lives," he responded quickly, casting his
eyes about him to see if the coast was clear.