"Am I to understand," he said at last, "that you intend to do nothing to me?"
"It is not worth our while to hang you. For such a crime any other punishment would be an outrage and a jest. You slew a good and a gentle man; one as brave as you are cowardly. By the same blow you destroyed his wife, who lingered for a few years, pining till she died. Both of these were dear to God. He will avenge them in His good time. Only one thing we shall insist on, that you leave this country immediately, and under a solemn oath never to return to it. One good point you have, I am told--fidelity to your word."
"And if I refuse, what then?"
"Then you die a murderer's death. We have evidence you little dream of."
He had now recovered his presence of mind, and his scoffing manner; and all his plan was formed.
"What a brave young lady you are to come here all alone, and entertaining so low an opinion of the poor Professor."
"The very reason why I scorned precautions." A deep gleam shot through the darkness of his eyes.
"You must indeed despise me, to come here without telling any one!"
"Of course. But I did not mean to come, till my father's spirit led me."
With a shudder he glanced all round the room. Lily was not mistaken when she called him superstitious. Then he tried to sneer it off.