But she drew her hand away hastily—almost with repugnance—from his clasp. Was it not that of a would-be murderer?
‘Henri,’ she replied quietly, though her voice shook, ‘you must never speak to me again like that. I have done what you say, and I thank Heaven, who has crowned my efforts with success; but it was done for the sake of the Past, not of the Present; and nothing in the Future, except the knowledge that your life has been saved for better things, can ever repay me. I have been shocked beyond measure at what I have heard concerning you. You have steeped your hands, or would have done so, in the blood of innocent victims, for the sake of carrying out an unworthy revenge on the daughter of your benefactors. It was a crime which would make any honest person shrink from you, which would make most people consider that a death on the gallows, or in the Alligator Swamp, was your just deserts. But I cannot forget, Henri. Ever since I have known your relations with my adopted sister, I have ceased to desire your affection; but I cannot forget that I once valued it, and to think of your being sent out of the world without the opportunity to repent, was very terrible to me. That is why I have run this risk to save you, and why I am thankful I have succeeded. But don’t speak of love to me again, or you may make me sorry instead of glad.’
There was a calm, reasonable determination in her voice as she spoke, that brought conviction home to Henri de Courcelles’ mind. He saw it plainly now. He had not only lost her love,—he had forfeited her respect and her esteem; and as the truth smote home to him, the unwonted tears rose to his eyes.
‘Why didn’t you leave me in the swamp?’ he murmured. ‘I had better have remained there, to become the prey of the alligators, than live under your contempt. Let me go back,’ he continued, starting to his feet, ‘for your words have taken all my courage out of me, and I would rather die a thousand deaths by my own hand than fall into those of my enemies, and swing like a malefactor from the Fort gates.’
‘You shall do neither!’ exclaimed Lizzie, as she caught his arm, and drew him down to her side again. ‘Come, Henri, be reasonable. Remember I am your friend, and have thought out the whole plan of your escape. Put on this cloak and sombrero. See how completely they disguise you, and cover you from head to foot. The only thing we have to dread now is lest some acquaintance should meet and question me; but that is very unlikely, as this is the general dinner hour for all Europeans, and I will take you home by an unfrequented path.’
‘But when I reach your bungalow, Lizzie, what will Rosa say?’
‘I have been obliged to take Rosa into my confidence, Henri, but she will not betray you. As for the rest, leave it to me, and I believe that, with Heaven’s aid, I can bring you out of this strait.’
‘You are too good to me,’ he said brokenly; ‘and I place myself altogether in your hands. Lead on, Lizzie, as you think best, and I will follow.’
‘No, Henri; we will walk side by side. It will be much better, in case of an encounter with any one who knows us, that I should show a perfect fearlessness in the matter. Take my staff in your hand, and sling the wallet across your shoulder. Then we shall look as if we had been searching the country for herbs for medicinal purposes; and I will gather a bundle of leaves, in order to carry out the delusion. That is right. Now come with me, and let us step out manfully together.’
They traversed the couple of miles that lay between them and Beauregard, without encountering anything more formidable than a few negroes sauntering along the road as they returned from work. But as they approached the plantation, the danger of discovery became more imminent, and Lizzie conducted her companion to her bungalow by a circuitous route.