“Ada, by force or fraud I was compelled to bring you here. ’Twere better the latter than the former.”
“And now,” said Ada, “by force or fraud I am to be kept here. Jacob Gray, I will not swear faith to thee.”
“You will not?”
“I will not.”
“Girl, you are mad—you know not what you do. This is a device of mine to save your life—to place you above the reach of fortune’s malice.”
“Answer me one thing, and call on Heaven to witness your truth,” said Ada. “Are you father, uncle, or nothing else?”
“Will you swear as I bid you?”
“I cannot resign the dear hope of escape,” said Ada.
“Escape,” replied Gray, “is impossible. The dungeon from which I have even now brought you is inaccessible save by the means in my power. For my own safety, I must keep you a prisoner, or—or—”
“Or murder me, you would say. Jacob Gray, I think you dare not kill me.”