Captain Burton hesitated. "It would seem so," said he, "but I don't think he is very sure of the truth, or else he would speak out."
"He threatens you, dear."
"I know he does. He threatened me at Chippingholt. Brenda, I don't deny that the man is dangerous, and that he knows more than I like him to know. It is in his power to harm me, and if I marry you he will do his best against me. But that sha'n't stop us, Brenda. We'll get married and defy him."
Miss Scarse signified her full approval of this course of action; but she saw that her lover was keeping something back.
"Harold, what else did Van Zwieten say to you at Chippingholt?"
"Oh, nothing of any consequence," replied her lover, uneasily.
"My dear!" Brenda slipped her arm round his neck and drew him down on the sofa beside her. "If you love me, you must trust me. If you think me a sensible woman, you must be honest with me. I know you had some other reason for leaving Chippingholt so suddenly--it was not altogether because you were afraid of telling me about the loss of your money. Van Zwieten told me he could get you into trouble, and now you say the same thing. Tell me what hold he has over you?"
"He has no hold over me," whispered Harold. But she saw that his forehead was beaded with perspiration.
"Tell me--tell me?" she repeated.
"Brenda--I cannot--I dare not."