“There is nothing to forgive. All I ask is that you come with me at once. You would be safer in the hands of the police than here.”
“Tell me why? And you have not explained Dr. Barosa’s object. He has been kindness itself in all this trouble.”
“He stopped you from leaving with the visconte,” I reminded her.
“There was a reason. My presence was still necessary to get the information from M. Dagara. But Dr. Barosa and Inez are going to take my mother and myself away to-day to join the visconte in Paris.”
“They will do nothing of the kind. They are false to you right through. The contesse herself is being deceived by Barosa. Sampayo is among the men on the Rampallo; and I got from him to-day the real truth why you were compelled to betroth yourself to him. It is not a pretty story, but you must hear it. He——” I stopped abruptly as Inez entered.
She was smiling, but far less collectedly than usual. “Well, have you persuaded Mr. Donnington that you must remain here, Miralda?”
“No; I am going with him, Inez.”
“You must do as you please, of course, but you know the danger.”
“I am going home.”
“You do not think we can take care of her, Mr. Donnington? What have you told her to cause this change of plan?”