A madness of determination came to me. At all hazards she should be mine. Shacklock was a liar and a schemer, a thief and an adventurer. I would bear witness against him, even at risk of the vendetta which would inevitably fall upon me.
She saw my changed face, and for the first time clung to me.
“Godfrey!” she whispered hoarsely, “have pity upon me, and remain silent. Any word from you must reflect upon myself.”
“I will not allow you to make this self-sacrifice,” I cried fiercely. “Remember Blumenthal.”
“It was for my father’s sake,” she replied. “To save him.”
“And now?”
She did not answer for several moments. Then in a low voice broken by emotion she said:—
“To save myself.”
“But it is madness!” I cried. “In what manner can you be in the power of such a man? You surely know what he is?”
“Alas! I do—too well. If he had one grain of sympathy or feeling he would surely release me.”