“Monsieur s’amuse.”
“I shall at once proceed to put down in writing the heads of the confession which you have just made. You will sign the writing in question in the presence of Mr. Bristow as witness. You need be under no apprehension that any immediate harm will happen to you. As for Mr. St. George, I shall deal with him in my own time, and in my own way. There are, however, two points that I wish you to bear particularly in mind. Firstly, if, even by the vaguest hint, you dare to let Mr. St. George know that you have told me what you have told me to-night, it will be at your own proper peril, and you must be prepared to take the consequences that will immediately ensue. Secondly, you must hold yourself entirely at my service, and must come to me without delay whenever I may send for you, and wherever I may be. Do you clearly understand?”
“Yes, sir. I understand.”
“For the present, then, I have done with you. Two hours later I will send for you again, in order that you may sign a certain paper which will be ready by that time. You may go.”
“But, monsieur——”
“Not a word. Go.”
Tom held open the door for him, and Janvard passed out without another word.
“At last, Dering! At last everything is made clear!” said Tom, as he crossed the room and laid his hand affectionately on Lionel’s shoulder. “At last you can proclaim your innocence to the world.”
“Yes, my task is nearly done,” said Lionel, sadly. “And I thank heaven in all sincerity that it is so. But the duty that I have still to perform is a terrible one. I almost feel as if now, at this, the eleventh hour, I could go no farther. I shrink in horror from the last and most terrible step of all. Hark! whose voice was that?”
“I hear nothing save the moaning of the wind, and the low muttering of thunder far away among the hills.”