"For God's sake! don't joke." Folly flew back to him, laid hold of his arm with hands of almost savage entreaty. "Don't you see your danger? Don't you know what they intend?"
"Too well. That's why I wanted Morphew's company on my walk—not the best life insurance one could wish, but better than none."
"Ah! but why"—now the woman was almost sobbing—"why didn't you run for it while you had a chance?"
"For the best of all reasons—I hadn't the chance."
"But they left you alone down there on the veranda—"
"Half a minute." Lanyard firmly freed his arm and caught her wrists instead, applying pressure enough to command attention. "You knew that much, knew I hadn't gone off in that car—"
"Of course."
"How much more do you know?"
"There isn't time to tell you. Be content that I know everything—"
"Why he brought me here tonight?" She nodded. "What he's forced me to promise I'd do?"