"You forget I hold your life in my hand!" cried Dombrain, threateningly.
"Well, and I hold your position in mine," retorted Mrs. Belswin. "My life is a great deal to me, your position is everything to you. I am willing to leave Silas Oates alone if you give me money when I require it; if not, you can denounce me when you like."
"And then you will be hanged!" said Dombrain, spitefully.
"Bah! I can prove your story to be a lie."
"How so?"
"I'll tell you now. Good heavens! did you think that if I was guilty I'd think my life safe in your keeping? My neck against your position? Bah! the thing is ridiculous. I can clear myself and ruin you at the same time, but I want no scandal, nor my daughter to know who I am, as she inevitably must had I to publicly defend myself of your charge of murder. So you see that on my side I have as much a desire as you to keep matters quiet. Now then, I'll leave Silas Oates alone, I will not go near him; but if I want money you must supply it."
"I will do so--to any reasonable amount," replied Dombrain, hastily. "But you say you are innocent?"
"And I am."
"After what I've seen I don't believe it. If you did not kill him, who else had a motive?"
"How do I know? I was not in all the secrets of Sir Rupert's life. But I can tell to you, so afraid of losing your pettifogging position, what I dare not tell any one else. I saw Sir Rupert's dead body on that night, but I did not kill him."