It seemed to take Nance some minutes to realise the vindictive grimness of the thing.
"But what a villain!"
"Call him that if you like, child. He is a clever gambler and has to use a gambler's tricks. The end justifies the means. That is what he tells himself."
She smoothed her dress with her hands, and looked into the distance.
"It makes me ashamed and furious that we are so helpless. And yet we have to be polite and swallow our anger. Can anything be done?"
"And take the risk of having the lad shot?"
"No, no, you know I don't mean that! But to think that we should have to truckle to this man!"
"I see no other course at present. I am not a lamb myself. I would run a sword through the man to-morrow if I thought that it would help us. But it won't. We have got to be careful."
"I see—yes, I see."
"We must hold our tongues, not let the truth out, and yet try to find some way out of this blind alley. If we were to let our neighbours know the truth, they might come blundering in and lose Jasper his life."