Dora drew back with a gasp. Was he about to confess to the crime and allege temporary insanity by way of excuse? A violent trembling seized all her limbs, and she was obliged to lean against the table while waiting for his next words.
"You say Joad saw me?" he asked, looking at her. "Joad can denounce me?"
"No," she murmured, "he will not denounce you."
"But why should he show me such mercy?" cried Allen with haggard surprise. "He admires you; he is jealous of me. To get rid of me he would willingly place a noose round my neck."
"That is true, Allen. But--you are safe from him. He--he has asked me to be his wife."
"Ah!" said he, jealously seizing her hands. "And you--you---- No!" He abruptly tossed her hands away. "You could never bring yourself to marry that wretch, even for fifty thousand pounds."
"He does not wish for that money," said Dora, with a calmness which surprised herself; "he wants me."
"Like his insolence! Of course you told him that such a thing was impossible!"
Dora raised her eyes to his with a look of pain.
"How could I?" she said slowly. "He saw you at the Red House on that night."