"'One word,' he hissed, 'one whisper above your breath, and you shall die!'
"I know my face expressed no fear—nothing but scorn and contempt—for his grew more livid as he watched me.
"'It is all your fault!' he hissed into my ear; 'it is your accursed pride that has driven me to this! Why did you not promise to marry me when my life lay in your hands?'
"I laughed—the idea of a Darrell married to this midnight thief!
"'I told you I was a desperate man,' he went on. 'I pleaded with you, I prayed to you, I laid my life at your feet, and you trampled on it with scorn. I told you of my debts, my difficulties, and you laughed at them. If I could have gone back to London betrothed to you, every city usurer would have been willing to lend me money. I am driven to this, for I cannot go back to face ruin. You have driven me to it; you are the thief, though my hands take the money. Your thrice-accursed pride has ruined me!'
"'I shall go to Sir Oswald,' I said, 'and wake him. You shall not rob him!'
"'Yes,' he returned, 'I shall. I defy you, I dare you; you shall tell no one.'
"He took the revolver from the table and held it to my head; I felt the cold steel touch my forehead.
"'Now,' he said, 'your life is in your own hands; you must take an oath not to betray me, or I will fire.'
"'I am not afraid to die; I would rather die than hide such sin as yours. You cannot frighten me; I shall call for assistance.'