"I shall not forget my oath. Can the leopard change his spots? But I am getting so tired of it all. I should like to end it at one swoop. If you can do that——"
"I have just shown you how it is possible."
"There is sense in that suggestion. And it is so artistic. It would be quoted in the scientific papers and various ingenious theories would be put forth. But some might escape."
"One, or two perhaps at the outside. Let them. Nobody could suspect us over that. And I have the bees safely in my possession."
Geoffrey heard no more. The figures passed by him and then repassed in the direction whence they came.
No sooner were they out of sight than Geoffrey rose to his feet. He felt that he must ascertain at once whether that girl was Marion or not. The face was hers, the figure hers, but that voice—never!
He would find out, he would know, he would——
Then he paused. He came over the knoll of the irregular cliff and there strolling towards him in her white dress and straw hat was Marion. She was gathering gorse and did not see him until he was close upon her. The pause gave Geoffrey time to recover from his absolute amazement.
So that creature had not been Marion after all. A deep sigh of thankfulness rose to his lips. The sense of relief was almost painful.