"I will be ready."
She might have seen him smiling at her surrender. He could keep step with her motives, and visualise her girl's plans even before she had conceived them.
"Then I will leave you to wake your father."
"Yes."
"I shall wait for you in the hall."
Nance dressed, and went to her father's room. She had to wake him and to tell him what had happened. Durrell, in the thick of his contemptuous amazement at De Rothan's audacity, absolutely refused to leave Stonehanger.
"But, father, what are we to do? We are in the man's power."
"Refuse to do anything."
He persisted in remaining in bed, and Nance had to leave him, and go down alone into the hall. A lantern stood on the oak chair by the door, and De Rothan was standing with his back to it. He came forward gallantly when he saw Nance upon the stairs.
"Nance, you will forgive these highwayman's methods. I cannot help myself. It is for the best."