"Why waste any time, then? You seem to take an interest in me."
"I do, indeed. Oh! what shall I do?" cried Elise.
They were still standing at the back of the box, so that no one could see them, and the crash of the music prevented their voices from being heard.
"Speak! No one ever regretted telling the truth," said Jack; "and I can see by your face that you are too good a young lady to wish to conceal anything you ought to reveal."
Elise suddenly made up her mind.
"I will save you, if possible," she said. "Listen. I have heard my husband talking to a stranger. My husband is a clerk in a bank; he has committed forgeries to enable him to gamble. These forgeries are held by Mr. Smith, alias Lord Maltravers, who is your enemy."
"Ha!" ejaculated Harkaway.
"You expected to meet Lord Maltravers here this evening," pursued Elise.
"Candidly, you are right."
"He is gone to the Geysers to make terms with Vasquez, the bandit, to kidnap you."