I have found out everything. And I tell
you, you shan't marry him."

"I shan't marry him!" Lilian Rosenberg said with provoking coolness.
"Whoever thinks I want to marry him?"

"He does--I do!" Hamar shouted--his voice rising to a scream. "You've
hoodwinked me long enough--you hoodwink me no longer. You've
encouraged him from the first--made eyes at him every time you've seen
him--taken advantage of my absence to prowl about the passages to
waylay him--had him round to your rooms and visited him in his. You've
no sense of shame or honour--you've broken your promises to me--you're
a liar!"

"Anything else Mr. Hamar!" Lilian Rosenberg said, her eyes glittering.
"When you've quite finished, perhaps--you'll kindly go and leave me in
peace."

"Go! Leave you in peace!" Hamar shouted. "Damn you, curse your
impertinence! Go! I'll not budge an inch till I wring from you an
oath--a solemn binding oath, that you'll break off your engagement
with Kelson at once."

"Really, Mr. Hamar!" Lilian Rosenberg said, "I cannot put up with
quite so much noise. Will you go, or shall I ring for the porter to
turn you out?"

She moved in the direction of the bell as she spoke, but before she
could touch it Hamar had intercepted her.

"Stop this foolery!" he said catching hold of her wrist, "I'm in grim
earnest--the lives of all three of us are at stake--jeopardized
through you--through your infernal greed and selfishness. Do you
hear!"

"Please let go my wrist," she said quietly.

"I won't!" he shouted. "I'll squeeze, crush it, break it! Break you,
too, unless you swear to break off your marriage!"

"I'll swear nothing," Lilian Rosenberg said faintly. "You're a brute.
Let me go or I'll cry for help."

She screamed, but before she could repeat the scream, Hamar had her by
the throat--and then blind with passion and before he fully realized
what he was about, he had shaken her to and fro--like a terrier shakes
a rat--and had dashed her on the floor.

For some minutes he stood rocking with passion, and then, his eyes
falling on the inanimate form at his feet, he gave a great gasping cry
and bent over it.

"God in Heaven!" he ejaculated, "she's dead! I've killed her!"

He was still bending over her--still feeling her lifeless pulse, still
trying to resuscitate her--feebly wondering how he had killed her,
feverishly debating the best course to pursue--when Curtis and Kelson
burst in on him.

At the sight of Lilian Rosenberg's l