“Oh, please go while there’s time,” she pleaded; “he mustn’t take you.” She looked up at him and without shame, revealed the love that she now knew she must ever have for him. “Oh, I couldn’t bear that,” she said tremulously, “I couldn’t.”
He gazed down at her, not yet daring to believe that out of this black moment the greatest happiness of his life had come. “Ethel!” he said, amazed.
“I love you,” she whispered; “oh, my dear, I love you.”
He gathered her in his strong arms. “Then I can fight the whole world,” he cried, “and win!”
“For my sake, go,” she begged. “Let me see him first; let me try to get you out of it.”
“I stay here, dearest,” he said firmly. “When he comes, say that you’ve caught me.”
“No, no,” she implored; “I can’t send you to prison either.”
“I’m not going to prison,” he reassured her. “I’m not done for yet, but we must save your sister and get that warrant. He must not think you’ve failed him. Do you understand?”
“But he’ll take you away,” she cried, and clung to him.
“Do as I say,” he besought her; “tell him the necklace is here somewhere. Be brave, my dear, we’re working to save your sister. He’s coming.”