She felt the evil increasing; but she forced it away with the warm glow of her love.
“I’ve been worried to death,” he continued, “to put these things straight, and it is this that has kept me so poor.”
“Yes, I see,” she cried. “Oh, Robert, how you must have suffered!”
“Ah! Yes! I have,” he said; “but never mind that. Well, I was getting things straight as fast as I could; and all would now have been right again had not Bayle and his miserable jackal, Thickens, scented out the trouble, and they have seized me by the throat.”
“But, Robert, why not clear yourself? Why not go to Sir Gordon? He would help you.”
“Sir Gordon does not like me. But there, I have a few days to turn myself round in, and then all will come right; but if—”
He stopped, and looked rather curiously.
“Yes?” she said, laying her hand in his.
“If my enemies should triumph. If Bayle—”
“If Mr Bayle—”