"You are good to me, Mr. Pyne, so good that you are breaking my heart afresh every hour; but in justice to you I cannot accept the friendship that is so sweet to me. In mercy to myself I must refuse it! I have been in the world so long that it is no secret to me what construction is put upon the friendship of a man like you for a creature in my sphere and——"
"Leonie, I forbid you to speak like that. You know no more of what you are saying than a three-months-old child. There is no man that will have a right to question my motives when I say that I have asked you to become my wife. I did not come here to-night to speak to you upon this subject, nor shall I. You must listen to me—you must see the truth of what I say, for there is no time to be lost. Have you forgotten that to-morrow is the day set down for the hearing of your case?"
Her hand closed over the arm of the chair, her teeth were set firmly, her face became a shade more ghastly, but her voice was quiet as she answered:
"I had forgotten!"
"Then it is quite time that you remember, Leonie. I have, without your request, or even consent, constituted myself your attorney, and it is to talk with you upon this subject alone that I have come here to-night. I want you to feel the strength of my love sufficiently to know that you may trust me in all things. Do you think that you can do that?"
"I know that I can trust you!"
"Then tell me who committed that robbery!"
"I cannot!"
"I expected that answer, and yet you said that you could trust me.
"Leonie, I entreat you, for your own sake, to tell me the truth about this. If there is anything that ought to be concealed, I will help you to the last day of my life to conceal it; but, for the love of Heaven, don't place yourself in this hideous position without advice from some one. Let me be the judge. Tell me the truth, and I swear to you upon my honor that, if there is reason for the concealment I will help you to it!"