"You don't mean to tell me she's been parading me as her husband?"
"You're not? You're not Juanita's husband?"
"You'd better believe I'm not."
"Then, my God! how I've been fooled!"
Veneda seemed not to notice my remark, but sat staring at the blue sky above us. Suddenly he sprang to his feet.
"Look here, Ramsay," he cried, "come what may, I must get out of this, and you must help me."
"How can I help you? If it comes to that, I'm in quite as bad a fix as you are."
"No, I think not," he continued gravely. "I shouldn't be at all surprised if you find yourself at liberty to-night."
"What do you mean?" I asked, jumping at the hope he held out. "What do you think can bring such a thing about?"
"Never mind, you wait and see. But if you do get off, will you pledge yourself to assist me?"