"He did not frighten me, Vane; I have never known fear. But his eyes were full of murderous hate, and I had an idea that he would have few scruples as to taking my life. "'So, Captain Aubrey Langton,' I said, slowly, 'you are a thief! You are robbing the old friend who has been so good to you!' "He dragged me to the table on which the money lay, and then I saw a revolver lying there, too. "'One word,' he hissed, 'one whisper above your breath, and you shall die!' "I know my face expressed no fear--nothing but scorn and contempt--for his grew more livid as he watched me. "'It is all your fault!' he hissed into my ear; 'it is your accursed pride that has driven me to this! Why did you not promise to marry me when my life lay in your hands?' "I laughed--the idea of a Darrell married to this midnight thief! "'I told you I was a desperate man,' he went on. 'I pleaded with you, I prayed to you, I laid my life at your feet, and you trampled on it with scorn. I told you of my debts, my difficulties, and you laughed at them. If I could have gone back to London betrothed to you, every city usurer would have been willing to lend me money. I am driven to this, for I cannot go back to face ruin. You have driven me to it; you are the thief, though my hands take the money. Your thrice-accursed pride has ruined me!' "'I shall go to Sir Oswald,' I said, 'and wake him. You shall not rob him!' "'Yes,' he returned, 'I shall. I defy you, I dare you; you shall tell no one.' "He took the revolver from the table and held it to my head; I felt the cold steel touch my forehead. "'Now,' he said, 'your life is in your own hands; you must take an oath not to betray me, or I will fire.' "'I am not afraid to die; I would rather die than hide such sin as yours. You cannot frighten me; I shall call for assistance.' "'Wait a moment,' he said, still keeping that cold steel to my forehead, and still keeping his murderous eyes on my face; 'listen to what I shall do. The moment you cry out I shall fire, and you will fall down dead--I told you I was a desperate man. Before any one has time to come I shall place the bank-notes in your hand, and afterward I shall tell Sir Oswald that, hearing a noise in the library, and knowing money was kept there, I hastened down, and finding a thief, I fired, not knowing who it was--and you, being dead, cannot contradict me.' "'You dare not be so wicked!' I cried. "'I dare anything--I am a desperate man. I will do it, and the whole world will believe me; they will hold you a thief, but they will believe me honest.' "And, Vane, I knew that what he said was true; I knew that if I chose death I should die in vain--that I should be branded as a thief, who had been shot in the very act of stealing. "'I will give you two minutes,' he said, 'and then, unless you take an oath not to betray me, I will fire.'