"I ask again, shall I call her down to test the truth of your statements?"
"Shall I go up and bring her down to you?"
"In order," said Mr. Manners, "that you may have time to concoct some story which you can prevail upon her to adopt, so that I may be the further deceived?"
"Sir, you wrong me," stammered Mark Inglefield.
"Mr. Inglefield," said Mr. Manners, "let us throw aside the mask of treachery and deceit. The questions I addressed to you were put for a purpose. Is it sufficiently explicit to you if I tell you that you have betrayed yourself?"
"I do not understand you."
"That is not true. You understand me well enough, though yet you do not know all I have resolved upon. It is I, not you, who will take Miss Parkinson to her father to-night. It is for you, not for me, to make an honest woman of her."
Then, indeed, did Mark Inglefield know that the game was up.
"If you are determined not to believe what I say, sir--"
"Not one word. All your statements are false--in the present, as they have been in the past. It was you who stole Miss Parkinson from her home last night, and the poor girl who is now with her was bought over by you. Be thankful that you are spared a visit from Mr. Parkinson. But for me, you would be face to face with him, and would have had to answer for your crime. Mr. Inglefield, evil can be atoned for. For the evil I have done in the past it shall be my endeavor to atone. It will be to your interest to come to the same resolve."