"Worse than that!" said Swain thickly, his face suddenly livid. "Oh, worse than that!"
I confess that I caught something of his horror; but I shook myself impatiently.
"I can't believe that," I said. "But, in any case, our men will be at hand. At the least outcry they will burst into the house. And remember, the three servants are there."
"They cut no figure. If they didn't hear those screams the other night, do you think they would hear any others? You must get her away from there, Mr. Lester," he went on rapidly. "If she won't come of her own accord, you must use force."
"But, my dear Swain," I objected, "I can't do that. Do you want me to kidnap her?"
"Just that—if it's necessary."
"Then I'd soon be occupying a cell here, too. I don't see what good that would do."
"It would save her," he asserted, doggedly. "It would save her. That's the only thing to consider."
But I rose to my feet in sudden impatience; what consideration was she showing for him or for me or for anyone?
"You're talking foolishly," I said. "You'd much better be thinking of your own danger; it's much more real than hers." I had an impulse to add that, since she had chosen her path, it was folly to waste pity upon her, but I managed to check the words. "Has any new light on the case occurred to you?"