you presume to suppose that you will be suffered to live after
that?" demanded the lady.

"Possibly not. In which case somebody else would have to be interviewed;
but that would not help your cause. Come, Friday; the only possible
salvation for you will be your full agreement to my terms of silence."

"Oh! you unmitigated villain!"

"Quite so. I am no halfway weakling, as you know perfectly well--for there
are no secrets between us, Friday. You know, and therefore I need not
remind you, that I never stop at any means to gain an end. I have an end
in view just now. It is the price of my silence."

"I wonder what new felonies you can possibly be meditating now?" bitterly
demanded the lady, in spite of her fears.

"'What new'--what was the word?"

"Felonies! you ruthless fiend!"

"Ah! Certainly! Thanks! You are too good to say so! Ah--the--enterprise I
have in hand just now is one in which you will promptly and zealously give
me all the help you possibly can--such effectual assistance, in point of
fact, as shall insure its success."

"And if I do not?"

"'If you do not?' I have already told you the consequences. But you are
slow to believe them. You do not really believe me to be so thorough-going
as you have been good enough to say that I am. You think that at the last
there will be some relenting on my part. Disabuse yourself of that
illusion. Friday, listen to me: No condemned criminal standing on the
trapdoor of a scaffold ever occupied a more dangerous position than you do
now. Refuse to co-operate with me in my purpose, and I give the signal
that seals your fate--I spring the trap that lets you drop at once into
perdition. That is all, my lady."

"And yet," groaned Elfrida Force, clasping her hands convulsively
together--"and yet neither I nor any one related to me have ever broken
any law of the land, or have ever been accused or even suspected of
breaking one."

"That should be a most precious and comforting reflection, Friday,
especially if I should be obliged to spring that trap. Many unhappy
victims have met their doom with fortitude and resignation under such
circumstances."

"Cease! you dastard, cease!" cried the lady, wringing her hands. "Be
silent! or tell me what it is you want, so I may know the worst at once!"

"Quite so. I will not only be silent now, but I will be mute henceforth.
Yea, I will be dumb forever!--that is, on certain conditions."

"What conditions? Why can't you name them?