She raised her eyes to his almost incredulously. "You are going to--to let them be ruined?"
He smiled at her, flashing his strange eyes. "It wouldn't do for you to be under an obligation--a personal obligation--to me, would it? Jake--you know--Jake might object."
She rose quickly and stood facing him. "Charlie, please don't jest!" she urged him, her voice low and very earnest.
His smile became a grimace. "It rests with you," he said, "whether I jest my way to the devil or whether I live a godly, righteous and sober life for evermore. If it is to be the latter, then I am quite prepared to fulfil my virtuous devoirs to my prospective mother-in-law. But if the former is to be my portion--well, I don't think even St. Peter himself would have saddled himself with anyone else's. That is the position, chère reine. Tu comprends maintenant?"
Yes, she understood. There was nothing complex in the situation. She stood looking at him her hand still in his.
"Then I cannot look upon you as--a friend?" she said at last, almost under her breath.
He smiled upon her--a sudden, baffling smile. "But ask yourself that question, Maud of the roses!" he said. "You will find the answer there in your own heart, if you seek for it."
She quivered at the words, feeling the subtle attraction of the man even against her will.
"You have refused to help me," she said.
He bent towards her, his dark face glowing. "I offer you--all I have," he said. "It is your own, to do with as you will. But you must take all or leave all. Maud, Maud," his speech quickened to sudden vehemence, "you love me! Why do you cling to your prison when the door is standing wide? Now is your time to escape, if ever. I will take all your cares--all your burdens. You shall be free as air. Only--now that the door is open--come!"