"You say you've forgotten nothing. Have you remembered that I've brought her up, so to speak, since she was knee-high to me? Have you ever thought where she'd be to-day if I hadn't—But, of course, you don't know where I came across her. And I'm not going to tell you just now. All I will say is that it rests absolutely in my hands whether—whether she stays safe here with you or—You may believe me or not, as you like, but—Better talk it over with her before you go any further,—my lord!"
He frowned, as if warningly, at Sallie, and turned on his heel and, swaggering back to the table, grotesquely aggressive, sat down again with his back to them all, leaving them to make whatever they liked of his veiled threat and half-spoken hints as to his mysterious power over her. Slyne followed him. But Mr. Jobling pushed forward again, eager to establish himself on a safer footing of service to the other side.
"If your lordship will allow me," said he, his head on one side, shoulders bent and hands clasped, "I think I can undertake to arrange matters for you with Captain Dove. Some small money payment, perhaps, would save further unpleasantness—for her ladyship as well. We can scarcely contest his claim for at least the amount of—"
"I don't know what you're talking about—or what business it is of yours!" said Lord Jura sharply and turned to give Herries some order. But, before he could speak, Sallie claimed his attention again.
"Let them go," she implored of him vehemently. "Oh, please let them go. Don't send for the police. I couldn't bear to think that they had come to any harm through helping me—even for their own purposes. And some of what Captain Dove says is true enough: he's looked after me for longer than I can remember, almost—and but for him I wouldn't be here now. The past has sometimes been very hard for us both. It would spoil the future entirely for me if I felt that I had been the means of betraying him to the police. If they'll only promise to leave us alone now, won't you let them go?—for my sake."
Lord Jura pulled at his under-lip in helpless indecision. He knew that he could not for long deny the girl anything she asked of him thus.
"You don't understand, Sallie," he said at length, very vexedly. "You'd better go off to your own room now,—and take Lady Jane—the duchess—with you. Leave me to deal with the Old Man and Slyne; it isn't only on my own account—"
"Will you set them on board the Olive Branch safe, if they promise to leave us alone now?" she urged, not to be denied in her purpose.
"But,—what are they to you?" he demanded. "Surely—it can't be—You don't—care for Jasper Slyne, do you, Sallie? I'll let him go, if you like—though he doesn't deserve it."
She shuddered. "If you hadn't come to-night," she told him tremulously, "you wouldn't have found me here—alive. I had made up my mind—" Her voice died away, but he understood.