'Who? What do you say?' cried Mr. Hunter, staring at Austin. 'It is that Miss Gwinn. The woman who set upon Mr. Henry in that strange manner. She----' Miss Gwinn opened the door at this juncture, and looked out upon them. Mr. Hunter walked briskly away in search of his brother. Austin turned back again. She closed the door when he was inside the room, keeping her hand upon it. She did not sit down, but stood facing Austin, whom she held before her with the other hand. 'Have you, since you came to London, seen aught of my enemy?--that man whom you saved from his death in the gravel pits? Boy! answer me truthfully.' He remained silent, scarcely seeing what his course ought to be; or whether in such a case a lie of denial might not be justifiable. But the hesitation spoiled that, for she read it arightly. 'No need of your affirmative,' she said. 'I see you have met him. Where is he to be found?' There was only one course for him now; and he took it, in all straightforward openness. 'It is true I have seen that gentleman, Miss Gwinn, but I can tell you nothing about him.' She looked fixedly at him. 'That you cannot, or that you will not? Which?' 'That I will not. Forgive the seeming incivility of the avowal, but I consider that I ought not to comply with your request--that I should be doing wrong?' 'Explain. What do you mean by "wrong?"' 'In the first place, I believe you were mistaken with regard to the gentleman: I do not think he was the one for whom you took him. In the second place, even if he be the one, I cannot make it my business to bring you into contact with him, and so give rise--as it probably would--to further violence.' There was a pause. She threw up her veil and looked fixedly at him, struggling for composure, her lips compressed, her face working. 'You know who he is, and where he lives,' she jerked forth. 'I acknowledge that.' 'How dare you take part against me?' she cried, in agitation. 'I do not take part against you, Miss Gwinn,' he replied, wishing some friendly balloon would come and whirl her away; for Mr. Hunter might not find his brother to give the warning. 'I do not take his part more than I take yours, only in so far as that I decline to tell you who and where he is. Had he the same ill-feeling towards you, and wished to know where you might be found, I would not tell him.' 'Austin Clay, you _shall_ tell me.' He drew himself up to his full height, speaking in all the quiet consciousness of resolution. 'Never of my own free will. And I think, Miss Gwinn, there are no means by which you can compel me.' 'Perhaps the law might?' She spoke dreamily, not in answer to him, but in commune with herself, as if debating the question. 'Fare you well for the present, young man; but I have not done with you.'