"No, no," he said. "Please do not waste valuable time by idle chatter of that kind. I assure you that I have no fear whatever of the result of my action. There is no witness here, and if you endeavoured to bring me before a judge, who, pray, would believe you?" There was some truth in those defiant words, and I saw by his attitude that he was not to be trifled with. "I take it that you have objects in both your propositions--in your daughter's marriage, and in her death?" I said, in a more conciliatory tone, hoping to learn something further of the motive of his dastardly proposal. "My object is my own affair," he snapped. "And my conscience is my own," I said. "I certainly do not intend that it shall be burdened by the crime for which you offer me this payment." He fixed me with flaming eyes. "Then you refuse?" he cried. "Most certainly I refuse," I responded. "Moreover, I intend to visit your daughter upstairs, and strive, if possible, to save her." "Save her?" he echoed. "You can't do that, unless you can perform miracles. But perhaps," he added with a sneer, "such a virtuous person as yourself may be able to work marvels." "I may be able to save her from assassination," I answered meaningly. "You intend to oppose me?" "I intend to prevent you from murdering your own daughter," I said warmly. "Further, I forbid you to enter her room again. I am a medical man, and have been called in by you to attend her. Therefore, if you attempt to approach her I shall summon the police." "Rubbish!" he laughed, his sinister face now ashen pale. "You cannot prevent me from approaching her bedside." "I can, and I will," I said. "You have expressed a desire that she should, for some mysterious reasons, die before sunset. You would kill her with your own hand, only you fear that when the doctor came to give his certificate he might discover evidence of foul play." "Exactly," he responded with perfect coolness, thrusting his hands into his pockets. "It is because of that I offer you twenty thousand pounds. I am prepared to pay for your scientific knowledge." "And for a death certificate?" "Of course." "Well, to speak plainly, I consider you an inhuman scoundrel," I said. "If your daughter's dying hour is not sacred to you, then no man's honour or reputation is safe in your hands." "I thank you for your compliment," he replied with a stiff bow. "But I might reply that you yourself are not very remarkable for honour, having in view the fact that, in the hope of gaining a sufficient price, you have married a woman upon whom you have never set eyes." "You tempted me!" I cried furiously. "You held the money before my gaze and fascinated me with it until I was helpless in your power. Fortunately, however, the spell is broken by this inhuman suggestion of yours, and I wash my hands clean of the whole affair." "Ah, my dear sir, that is not possible. Remember you are my daughter's husband." "And yet you ask me to kill her."