"Then to change the subject," he said. "In our brief conversation the other day we arrived at no conclusion whatever, nor was your letter any more satisfactory; will you tell me exactly what you have decided upon?" A sudden flash of anger leaped into her eyes above all the suffering that dilated them. "Now you are talking naturally," she said, "now you are your real self!" He bowed in graceful, almost insulting mockery. "It is your turn to pay compliments," he answered; "but I shall not receive them so ungraciously as you did mine." She passed her hand across her throat as if something were choking her, then she said in a hard, measured tone: "Have you considered the proposition I made you--will you go away from this country, and remain away for ever?" He stood playing with his watchchain in an easy, careless way, as he replied: "It is cruel to banish me--very cruel!" "Listen!" she exclaimed passionately; "I know more than you think--your residence here is not safe!" He only bowed again. "It may be so, but I leave few traces in my path. If you do indeed know anything which could affect me, I am very certain that in you I have a friend who will be silent." He opened his vest slightly and drew forth from an inner pocket a small paper, at the sight of which Elizabeth grew whiter than before. She made a gesture as if she would have snatched it from him, but he thrust it back in its hiding-place with a sarcastic smile. "Secret for secret," said he; "but never mind that. After all, you treat me very badly. I wonder I am in the least inclined to be friends with you." "Don't mock me!" she exclaimed. "Friends! There is no creature living that I loathe as I do you! No matter what the danger may be, I will speak the truth; tell you how utterly abhorrent you are to me, and brave the result." "Yet once----" She interrupted him with an insane gesture; perhaps he knew her too well for any attempt at trifling further with her just then, for his manner changed, and he said: "You will take cold here; it is growing dark and the wind is very chill." "It doesn't matter," she replied, recklessly. "Let us finish what there is to say, then I will go." The wretched woman could stand upon her feet no longer, she was shaking so with agitation and exhaustion that she was forced to sit down on a fallen log. He seated himself by her side, regardless of her recoiling gesture, and began to talk earnestly. For a full hour that strange interview went on, their voices rising at times in sudden passion, then sinking to a low tone, as if the speakers remembered that they spoke words which must not be overheard. At last Elizabeth arose from her seat, folded her cloak about her, and said, quickly: "Be here to-morrow at the same hour." Without giving him time to answer, or making the least sign of farewell, she darted rapidly through the darkening woods and disappeared in the direction of the house.