," he rejoined curtly.

"But I have nothing to offer you," she said.

She saw the grey eyes glitter as steel in sudden sunshine. Their
brightness was intolerable. She turned her own away.

"Does it not occur to you, Mademoiselle Stephanie," he said, "that your
life is more my property than your own at the present moment? Have I no
claim to be consulted as to its disposal?"

"None, monsieur," she made answer quickly. "None whatever."

"And yet," he said, "you asked me to save you when--had you preferred
it--I would have died with you."

She was silent, remembering with bitterness her wild cry for
deliverance.

He waited a little. Then:

"You may have nothing to offer me, Mademoiselle Stephanie," he said,
"but, by heaven, you shall take nothing away."

She heard a deep menace in his voice that was like the growl of an angry
beast. She shuddered inwardly as she listened, but outwardly she
remained calm. She even, after a few moments, mustered strength to rise
and face him.

"What is it that you want of me, Monsieur Dumaresq?" she asked. "How can
I purchase your services?"

He flung back his head abruptly. She thought that he was going to utter
his scoffing laugh. But it did not come. Instead, he looked at her,
looked at her long and piercingly, while she stood erect and waited.

At last: "The price for my services," he said deliberately, "is that you
marry me as soon as we reach England."

"Marry you!" In spite of her utmost resolution she started, and slightly
shrank. "You still desire that?"

"I still desire it," he said.

"And if I refuse?" she questioned, her voice very low.

"You will not refuse," he returned, with conviction. "You dare not
refuse."

She stood silent.

"And that being so," said Pierre, with a certain doggedness peculiarly
at variance with his fierce and headlong nature, "that being so,
Mademoiselle Stephanie, would it not be wiser for you to yield at once?"

"To yield, monsieur?"

Her eyes sought his for the fraction of a second. He was still closely
watching her.

"To give me your promise," he said. "It is all I shall ask of you. I
shall be satisfied with that."

"And what have you to offer in exchange?" she said.

A strange expression, that was almost a smile, flitted over his hard
face.

"I will give you my friendship," he said, "no more, no less."

But still she hesitated, till suddenly, with a gesture wholly arrogant,
he held out his hand.

"Trust me," he said,