“But you must. We have everything to gain by securing her silence.”
“And everything to lose by meeting her.”
“But when we meet her it will be in defiance. I have thought out a plan.”
“Then carry it out,” she said. “I will have nothing whatever to do with it.”
“I may compel you,” he said, with slow distinctness. “You have already compelled me to act as your accomplice, but you have strained my bonds until they can resist no longer. I intend to break them.”
“That is indeed very interesting!” He laughed, treating her as though she were a spoilt child.
“Yes,” she cried furiously, “I will kill myself!”
“And leave me to make a scandalous explanation.”
“Then you would besmirch my good name after my death?” she said, turning upon him quickly. “Ah, yes! You show yourself in your true colours. You would even weave about me a web of infamy, so as to prevent me taking my life. I hate and detest you!”
“That’s not the first time you have informed me of that fact, my dear,” he responded, perfectly coolly.