Miss Chandler looked at him without flinching, and replied:
"There is no reason why I should make any bargain with you, sir. I command you to leave the house! In the event of your refusing to do so, I have in my possession a revolver which I shall not hesitate to use. I have not wished to threaten, but you have forced it upon me. Do not think that I shall fear, for this is that boy's home, and he has the right to protect it from entrance of burglars who break in in the dead of the night. He will be the single witness in the case, and I think I shall have nothing to fear from him. Now once more, will you go?"
"Now less than ever! You have firmly convinced me that there is something, even more than I thought, at the bottom of all this, and I am determined to discover it. Now, my dainty one!"
With a suddenness that lost Leonie her footing, he dropped his hold of her, and sprung toward Miss Chandler, catching her about the waist and pinioning her arms. With the ease of an athlete he turned her around, and wrenching the knife from her hand, threw it upon the floor.
Leonie had secured it within the twinkling of an eye, and with it she sprung toward the door.
But Kingsley had not left the rear unguarded in any such manner as that. She fell back with a little gasp of terror.
It was locked!
As soon as she could recover from her disappointment she turned and looked at Evelyn and Kingsley.
He had pushed her backward upon the stairs, and holding her with one hand and his knee succeeded in finding the revolver of which she had spoken.
Without the quiver of a muscle he calmly pocketed it, and released her from her uncomfortable position.