"No," said Bertie, rising, white and passionate. "I'd shoot him first."
"Shoot him and be hung?" said Fitz, groaning. "You can't prevent it. Howard Murpoint is cleverer than us all, and if he has set his heart upon Ethel's being sacrificed to this Smythe fellow, why, sacrificed she'll be."
"I will help it," said Bertie. "I do not believe that Ethel will ever consent."
"She will," said Fitz. "I'll tell you why. They'll represent that if she marries the fellow, she'll save the family; and Ethel has such straight ideas of duty that she'll consent to sacrifice herself."
"Never!" said Bertie. "I would sooner see her in her grave. I would sooner tear her from them by force."
"I'll tell you what," said Fitz. "You'd better get her away by cunning."
Bertie thought for a moment.
"My honor——"
"Bids you do it," said Fitz. "She will sacrifice herself for a mistaken idea of duty. Nothing will save her unless——" He hesitated.
Bertie's blood raced through his veins.