She looked at him with a glance which had the menace of a hunted animal brought suddenly to bay, and ready from very despair to defend itself--in moments like that many a desperate woman has stained her soul with crime--but her companion betrayed no uneasiness. "You don't like me to say complimentary things to you," he said; "it is unkind to deprive me even of that pleasure." "I have no time to waste," she said, controlling herself by a strong effort, and speaking in a cold, measured tone. "I came to tell you that you must wait--I can't give you the money to-day--if you were successful with those cards you can afford to be patient." "My dear friend," returned he, "you know how anxious I am--how I desire to put the ocean between me and this accursed country." "You will not go when you get the money," she said; "you will drink, gamble--leave yourself without a penny." "So harsh always in your judgments," he returned, deprecatingly. "I have no hope of escaping you," she went on; "but I have one consolation--you are ruining me, and that will be your own destruction! My husband suspects me--watches me--the day he discovers a shadow of the truth, there is an end to these extortions." "Don't speak so angrily--my dear lady! I hardly think your husband would refuse to listen to reason--your proud men will do a great deal to procure silence where a lady is concerned." "You know that he would not be silent! With his home once broken up, his peace destroyed, he would be utterly careless of the world's knowledge--his wrongs and his revenge would lead him to desperate measures." "Is it possible? What an unpleasant character! Well, well, we must take pains that he is not enlightened--that is the way--you see how very simple it is." "I warn you, this is the last money I shall give you for years," she said; "it is only from having these stocks in my hands that I am able to do it now." "My dear friend, you forget; your husband may give you more stocks," he returned, with a laugh which made her shrink with abhorence. "Mr. Forbes has promised me the money this week--that will be in time for the steamer." "How coldly you betray anxiety to have me gone!" he said; "it is really cruel." "I have no idea that you will go," she returned; "you will spend the money--you will demand more--my husband will discover it. But at least I shall have the satisfaction of knowing that there is no place secret enough, no land distant enough to guard your life safely after that." He only received her passionate words with a shrug of the shoulders and a deprecating wave of the hand. "But it is so sad to go into exile alone," he said; "if I could take with me----" "Oh! you are such a base, miserable coward!" she broke in. "Such a pitiful, dastardly wretch! Don't frown at me--I have never been afraid of you--I am not now! I tell you the hour of retribution will come!" His face never changed, he made her a gracious bow and said pleasantly: