ven now probably looking after her and
watching her. How much more difficult must it be for her to deal with
the diamonds than it would have been for this man. Presently Mrs.
Carbuncle left the room, and Lucinda followed her. Lizzie saw them
go, and did not dare to go with them. She felt as though her limbs
would not have carried her to the door. She was now alone with her
Corsair; and she looked up timidly into his deep-set eyes, as he came
and stood over her. "Tell me all that you know about it," he said, in
that deep, low voice which, from her first acquaintance with him, had
filled her with interest, and almost with awe.

CHAPTER LI

Confidence

Lizzie Eustace was speechless as she continued to look up into the
Corsair's face. She ought to have answered him briskly, either with
indignation or with a touch of humour. But she could not answer him
at all. She was desired to tell him all that she knew about the
robbery, and she was unable to declare that she knew nothing. How
much did he suspect? What did he believe? Had she been watched by
Mrs. Carbuncle, and had something of the truth been told to him?
And then would it not be better for her that he should know it all?
Unsupported and alone she could not bear the trouble which was on
her. If she were driven to tell her secret to any one, had she not
better tell it to him? She knew that if she did so, she would be a
creature in his hands to be dealt with as he pleased;--but would
there not be a certain charm in being so mastered? He was but a
pinchbeck lord. She had wit enough to know that; but then she had wit
enough also to feel that she herself was but a pinchbeck lady. He
would be fit for her, and she for him,--if only he would take her.
Since her daydreams first began, she had been longing for a Corsair;
and here he was, not kneeling at her feet, but standing over her,--as
became a Corsair. At any rate he had mastered her now, and she could
not speak to him.

He waited perhaps a minute, looking at her, before he renewed his
question; and the minute seemed to her to be an age. During every
second her power beneath his gaze sank lower and lower. There
gradually came a grim smile over his face, and she was sure that
he could read her very heart. Then he called her by her Christian
name,--as he had never called her before. "Come, Lizzie," he said,
"you might as well tell me all about it. You know."

"Know what?" The words were audible to him, though the