“You saw us?” cried Annie. “Then you are a sneak—a spy. You saw us, and you——”
“Yes, I saw you. I stood in the shadow, and I heard what you said. The man who was with you——”
“Don’t dare to say a word against him!” cried Annie.
“Yes, I will. He is a rascal; a scoundrel.”
“Oh, he is my brother!” cried Annie; “the only one I love in all the world; and you dare not abuse him. What right have you?”
“I have every right, Annie; I know the truth. He wanted money; I heard him say so. He spoke cruelly to you; and you—you promised to help him. You were in great trouble, and I pitied you from my very soul. I did not know; I could not guess that you would make use of me; the crudest, the most terrible use. You forged a letter in my name, and you took it to my friend, Mr. Parker.”
“How—how can you know?” said Annie. Her voice had sunk to the lowest whisper. Leslie had to strain her ears to catch the words.
“I know in the best possible way, and from the best authority,” replied Leslie. “Mr. Parker came to see me to-day, and he told me everything.”
“And you betrayed me?”
Annie flung herself suddenly on her knees; she covered her face with her shaking hands.