A flush rose to my cheeks, for I knew well enough what he meant.
“She is fastened,” I said, and I turned the ray of the torch upon her again.
Smith removed his hand from her mouth but did not relax his grip of her. She looked up at me with eyes in which I could have sworn there was no recognition. But a flush momentarily swept over her face, and left it pale again.
“We shall have to—gag her—”
“Smith, I can’t do it!”
The girl’s eyes filled with tears and she looked up at my companion pitifully.
“Please don’t be cruel to me,” she whispered, with that soft accent which always played havoc with my composure. “Every one—every one-is cruel to me. I will promise—indeed I will swear, to be quiet. Oh, believe me, if you can save him I will do nothing to hinder you.” Her beautiful head drooped. “Have some pity for me as well.”
“Karamaneh” I said. “We would have believed you once. We cannot, now.”
She started violently.
“You know my name!” Her voice was barely audible. “Yet I have never seen you in my life—”