"What!" he continued, "do you not believe—well, then, look now!"
Of a sudden he flashed a blue lighted lanthorn into my face and he did something else which sent a thousand stinging currents of electric anguish quivering along my nerves. I uttered a shriek, but the gag stifled it to a hissing wail, and then I fell to breathing groans. Hell can have no worse torments than that villain had devised for my undoing. Had my mouth been unfettered I should have besought the woman I adored for death at any price for rest of pain. As it was I prayed her with my eyes—and she saw and took a message.
"Let him go!" she sobbed, "and I will marry you. Oh, this is horrible!"
On instant the blue light faded out and a blessed heaven of diminished torture gave me peace.
Belleville took from his breast a naked dagger which he put into the girl's hand. "Strike, then!" he said, "Strike here," and he put his finger on my breast.
The devil proposed to make his innocent victim a murderess. I saw his purpose, and with every atom of my strength I groaned. It was the only warning I could send.
But I had played right into Belleville's hands.
"Hear him implore you!" cried Belleville.
"Oh! I can't, I can't," she wailed.