"I sincerely hope you will not, Lieutenant. This is hard enough for me; don't make it any harder."
There could be no doubting what she meant, nor what she had nerved herself to accomplish. Feeling like a whipped cur I went slowly up the broad stairs, my hand on the banister rail, and she followed, keeping even pace with me, the cocked Colt pointing sternly upward at my back.
"The last door--yes, beyond the chimney. Step inside, Lieutenant Galesworth. Now close the door."
I stood, with fingers still grasping the knob, listening. There was a click, as though a heavy key was being turned in the lock, and then withdrawn. Following I heard her quick breath of relief, and a half-suppressed sob. The sound made her seem all woman again.
"Miss Hardy!" I called, my lips at the crack of the door.
"What is it?" the answering voice tremulous.
"I want to tell you that you are a brave girl, and that I do not in the least blame you."
There was a moment's hesitating silence, as though my unexpected words had left her speechless. Her breathing told me her lips were also close to the door.
"I--I am so glad you said that," she returned at last. "This--this has been so difficult to do. But you know I mean to do it, to hold you here; you realize I am terribly in earnest?"
"Yes--but for how long?"