"I couldn't. He was there, Harry, outside my door."
"In God's name! What did you tell him?"
"Nothing. We did not speak—but I couldn't get past him!" The suspicion in his face was more than she could bear. "You must believe me—for, if you don't, we're both lost!"
He had her by both wrists, now, and gently made her face him. "I have believed in you to the extent of coming alone to a place I know nothing of, because you wanted me. Now that I am here, what is it you have to say to me?"
"Oh, nothing more than I have said before," she pleaded; "only that, ten times more earnestly."
"You extraordinary child!" At first, he was pure amazement. "You've brought me so far, you've come so far yourself—you've got us both here in such danger, to tell me only this? How could you be so mad—so cruel?"
She had locked her hands in front of her until the nails showed white with the pressure. "It was more dangerous there than here. You don't know what has happened since I saw you. And I thought if you and I could only be alone together, without the fear of them always between us, I could show you, I could persuade you—" Before his look she broke down. "Well—you see, they followed us—they're here."
"Grant it, they are." He seemed to laugh at them. "You have still your chance. Give everything to me and I can save you still."
"'Save me?' Oh, nothing could happen to me so terrible as having you break my heart like this! If I should give the sapphire to you I should lose you—even the thought of you—for ever. Nothing could ever be right with us again! Won't you—" she pleaded, "won't you go?" and lifting her hands, taking his face between them, "Won't you, because I love you?"
He stood steady to this assault, and smiled down upon her. "Without you and without it I will not budge. Come now, this is the end. I never meant to do another thing."