‘No, because they tied weights to it before they threw it down, and so with the head. Stefan is there at the bottom. Perhaps another Stefanopoulos is there also; for his body was never found. He was caught by the man he threw down, and the two fell together.’
‘Well, I’m glad of it,’ said I with emphasis, as I rose to my feet. ‘I wish the same thing had always happened.’
‘Then,’ remarked Phroso with a smile, ‘I should not be here to tell you about it.’
‘Hum,’ said I. ‘At all events I wish it had generally happened. For a more villainous contrivance I never heard of in all my life. We English are not accustomed to this sort of thing.’
Phroso looked at me for a moment with a strange expression of eagerness, hesitation and fear. Then she suddenly put out her hand, and laid it on my arm.
‘I will not go back to my cousin who has wronged me, if—if I may stay with you,’ she said.
‘If you may stay!’ I exclaimed with a nervous laugh.
‘But will you protect me? Will you stand by me? Will you swear not to leave me here alone on the island? If you will, I will tell you another thing—a thing that would certainly bring me death if it were known I had told.’
‘Whether you tell me or whether you don’t,’ said I, ‘I’ll do what you ask.’