“We could set the room afire,” he said; “they might land to see what had happened.”
“And find us all shot.”
Jacqueline, standing beside Speed, said, quietly: “I could swim it. Wait. Raise the window a little.” 372
“You cannot dive from that cliff!” I said.
She cautiously unlocked the window and peered out into the dark garden.
“The cliff falls sheer from the wall yonder,” she whispered. “I shall try to drop. I learned much in the circus. I am not afraid, Speed. I shall drop into the sea.”
“To your death,” I said.
“Possibly, m’sieu. It is a good death, however. I am not afraid.”
“Close the window,” muttered Speed. “They’d shoot her from the wall, anyway.”
Again the child gravely asked permission to try.