“Then if you won’t ‘stand’ it, you had better walk it. Marry you, indeed! Not if I know it. Gammon! If I were fool enough to marry you this week, why, next week, or next month you might secede from me!”
“Elfrida, I will not bear this!” exclaimed Albert, stamping.
“Then don’t. There is no reason why you should. You know the way out of the house into the street, and you are at liberty to take it. I strongly advise you to do so,” said Elfrida.
He glared at her, and then striding toward her, took her roughly by the arm, and hissed in her ear:
“You have become possessed of our secrets. But beware how you betray them. For if you should, woman as you are, the vengeance of the Banded Brothers will surely find you out.”
“Bosh!” exclaimed Elfie, “what do you think I care for the vengeance of the Banded Brothers? I care not for them, Albert Goldsborough, even though they may track and kill me for what I am about to do. The hardest part of my trial, Albert, you will never know, and perhaps could never understand!” said Elfie, and she set the library door wide open, and then went to the corner of the mantelpiece, and rang the bell.
“What is that for?” uneasily inquired Albert.
“It is for a servant to show you the way to the front door, Mr. Goldsborough, since you don’t seem to know it. Go! I will give you a few hours to get out of the city and hide yourself. Then I will go to the President and denounce your plan, that immediate measures may be taken to defeat it.”
“To the President!” sneered Albert Goldsborough, with a laugh that seemed to say: “Why, he is one of us!”
“Yes, I will go to the President and denounce this plot; and if he won’t listen to me, I will go to General Scott, and he will save the city. But in the meantime, Albert Goldsborough, I will give you a few hours to escape in. I believe there is a train leaves for Baltimore and Philadelphia in an hour from this; and there is another leaves for Alexandria and Richmond in an hour and a half. May the Lord bring you to reason! Go!” she said, pointing to the open door.