"He never said anything like that to me," said Agatha indignantly. "Do you think he is so stupid as that?"
"I never thought him stupid till this moment," said Mr. Browne unabashed. "What on earth did he say to you?"
"Just that he loved me—and enough, too. But, oh! Dicky, I told you I was frightened, and I am. That dreadful man said that, rather than see me married to Jack, he would destroy him!" Her voice began to tremble. "He'll do it, too; I feel he will."
"Nonsense, my good child! People can't go about destroying people nowadays. There is always the convenient hangman. And besides, though I can't exactly say I dote on Darkham, still, he seems to me a most respectable person."
"To me," said Agatha in a low tone, "he seems a murderer! Yes; I mean it. I am afraid of him, and I really do think, Dicky"— bursting into tears—"that he will try to kill Jack. His face was frightful when he said it. Oh, perhaps he is devising some scheme now—now, this moment! I could not be deceived; there was meaning in his eyes. Dicky"—turning to him with a touch of passion—"I want to see Jack—to warn him."
"To-morrow?"
"Oh no! Now—now! Can't I see him now? I shall go mad with thinking if I have to pass this night without giving him a word of warning."
"Look here, Agatha! It's late, you know, and Mrs. Greatorex will be home shortly, and—-"
He paused. The girl knew well what he meant. Of course it was unconventional to go to her—to Dr. Dillywn's house now; but for the sake of conventionality was she to let the man she loved be murdered? She was a little unstrung, and at this moment she firmly believed that Darkham was bent on a swift destruction of her lover. In the slow, solemn passing of the light to darkness fears grow thick, and Agatha's became unbearable.
Jack was there, in his lonely house, and unwarned! What fitter time to take a person unawares? The poor child was weakened by the events of the past few days, and could see nothing but her one sole possession cruelly done to death. That man—Darkham— had looked murderous. Oh, to go to Jack for a second only—to tell him! What could it matter what the world said, if he still lived!