"Come, come! Make up your mind, girl!"
"Swear to me, that you will never show the paper to any one but Sir Noel—never use it against the young gentleman!"
"Swear! I am ready! If there were a Bible here I would do it now."
"Never mind the Bible! With your hand here, and your eyes looking into mine, swear to your promise."
Storms gave a returning grasp to the hand which had seized his, and his eyes were lifted for a moment to the bold, black orbs that seemed searching him to the soul; but they wavered in an instant, and returned her gaze with furtive side-glances, while he repeated the oath in language which was profane rather than solemn.
After holding his hand for a minute, in dead silence, Judith dropped it, and taking the old portemonnaie from her bosom, gave up old Jessup's first letter, but without a word of the other paper.
"There! Remember, I have trusted you."
Storms fairly snatched the paper from her hand, for the cruel joy of the moment was too much for his caution.
"Now," he said, with a laugh more repulsive than curses, "I have them all in the dust."
"But remember your oath," said Judith, uneasily, for the fierce triumph in that face frightened even her.