"I've promised to marry him. He has Wilmot Allen in his house--in his power. He told me that if I would marry him, he would let Wilmot go. If I wouldn't, he would kill him with indescribable tortures. I told him that I would marry him when I learned that Wilmot was safe. And so I will, and then I will kill myself. You've got to do something. I never knew till he was in this awful danger that in all the world there was never anybody for me but Wilmot--fool not to know it in time."
Dr. Ferris made her drink something that he mixed in a glass. In a few minutes her jumping nerves began to come into control.
"I've seen that man. I was writing notes in the summer house when he came".
"Wilmot," said he, "will never consent to save himself at your expense. And I think I can promise you that Blizzard will do nothing in this matter for some time. He is to undergo a very serious operation to-night. It has all been arranged. A man under obligation to Blizzard has consented to give his legs--I am to operate. Don't look at me like that, daughter. I have given my word that if I thought the thing could be done, I would do it. The man consents. There is no reason why I shouldn't. I would do more to undo what I have done, and in the interests of science."
"You don't understand. The man who consents is Wilmot."
"Did Blizzard tell you so?"
"Nobody has told me. I know it. He consents so that I may go free."
"Of course if Wilmot is the man--"