“Will you do exactly as I tell you?”
“What is the use?” she said dully.
“I’m going to get you out of here.”
“I should have to face it later. I couldn’t face it—the horror and shame of it. I’d rather die a thousand times.” She lifted her arms, the coat opened, and the cane-handled blade dropped to the floor, and rolled. She shuddered away from it. “I kept that for myself, but I couldn’t do it. It’s got his blood on it. When I heard the doctor speak of the poison, it seemed like a miracle of Providence sent to guide me. Oh, give it to me! Is it”—she faltered—“is it quick?”
“Steady!” Stooping he picked up the weapon. “It needn’t come to that, if you can play your part. Have you got the courage to walk out of this house and go home to safety? Absolute safety!”
She searched his face in bewilderment. “I—don’t know.”
“If I give you my word of honor that it depends only on yourself?”
“How?”
“Pull yourself together. Go downstairs quietly. Turn to your left. You’ll see a door. It opens on the street. Walk out with your head up, and go home. You’re as safe as though you’d never seen Ely Crouch. There’s no clue to you.”
“No clue! Look down the fire escape!”