“If that is true, you have it in your power to do so with marvellous ease.”
“How so?” I queried.
“Absolve me from my agreement to stay here an hour. Sit still there in your chair, and let me go about my business unmolested and at once.”
“No; to that agreement I must hold you, for your own sake. I have much to say to you, if you would only let me once get started.”
“Good God, sir!” she cried, springing up in passion. “You drive me to extremes. Do you know that you are violating the laws of the State in harbouring me here?—that you are exposing yourself to the risk of prosecution?”
“I know that I should be violating the laws of humanity if I suffered you to lay violent hands upon yourself so long as I have it in my power to restrain you. As for the laws of the State, do you mean that you can bring an action against me for damages in interfering with your personal liberty? I doubt if you will do so. And I am sure no jury, apprised of the circumstances, would find against me.”
“You are still in ignorance of the situation.” said she. “Now open your eyes.”
With that she threw off the waterproof cloak in which she was enveloped, and stood before me in the blue and white striped uniform of a Deadlock Island convict.