“You know perfectly well. Sampayo told you, after my interview with him three days ago. He begged you to cut the net in which you had involved Mademoiselle Dominguez. He told me this morning what I had only suspected before and what the Contesse Inglesia does not even suspect--your real motive.” “He has lied to you of course.” “Lies or truth, it doesn’t alter the present situation. Even if you draw your revolver and put one of its bullets in my head you won’t help matters. I have taken that precaution, you may be perfectly certain.” “You mean to betray us all to the Government?” he asked after a pause, during which he drew his hand slowly from his pocket. “I tell you what I have already told the contesse. My object is entirely personal. You can fight out your battle with your Government in your own way; but I mean to gain my end. When once that is gained, I shan’t be more minutes in Lisbon than I can help.” Again he paused. He realized no doubt that he had to choose between giving up Miralda or sacrificing his cause and all concerned in it. A dilemma searching enough to make him thoughtful. “You will give me your pledge to keep absolutely silent?” he asked at length. “It is for me to impose conditions, not for you.” “How do I know that all has occurred as you tell me?” “You can please yourself. I have a paper signed by Sampayo and Gompez and all the rest of them.” “Show it me.” “Certainly.” This might offer me the chance I sought. I took it out and held it toward him, intending to close with him the instant he came near enough. But he was too wary. “Throw it to me,” he said. “You can read it from there,” I replied, and held it up so that he could do so. “And where is the _Rampallo_ now?” I smiled and shook my head. “I have been very frank as to what has occurred; but what is going to occur is my own business.” “You say these men have let you make them prisoners?” “They say so themselves here.” “And they are absolutely in your power to deliver them up to the Government when you please?” “Absolutely. And they will be given up and a full statement of the facts made, unless I determine otherwise.” That hit him as hard as I intended. “When?” he rapped out. “That also I must leave you guessing. If you are under the belief that by keeping me here or doing me any sort of mischief you will prevent all this getting out, you are merely deluding yourself.” He paused once more and then tossed up his hands. “You have left me no option,” he said with a sigh. “What do you wish me to write?” “That Mademoiselle Dominguez and her brother were forced into this affair by you and that she was never aware of the nature of the communications she received from Dagara.” “I will write it,” he said at once. “Here is the key of the door;” and he threw the key to me as he crossed to a table and sat down to write.