"Here, in this room, where we are standing now, she tells me that the scene took place, and that, finding she had discovered you in the very act of theft, you held a loaded pistol to her head until she took the oath you dictated. Is it true or false?" "It is a lie!" he repeated; but his lips were growing white, and great drops stood upon his brow. "She tells me," resumed Lady Darrell, "that you loved her, and that you care only for Darrell Court, not for me. Is it true?" "It is all false," he said, hoarsely--"false from beginning to end! She hates you, she hates me, and this foul slander has only been invented to part us!" Lady Darrell looked from one to the other. "Now Heaven help me!" she cried. "Which am I to believe?" Grave and composed, with a certain majesty of truth that could never be mistaken, Pauline raised her right hand. "Lady Darrell," she said, "I swear to you, in the presence of Heaven, that I have spoken nothing but the truth." "And I swear it is false!" cried Aubrey Langton. But appearances were against him; Lady Darrell saw that he trembled, that his lips worked almost convulsively, and that great drops stood upon his brow. Pauline looked at him; those dark eyes that had in them no shadow save of infinite pity and sorrow seemed to penetrate his soul, and he shrank from the glance. "Elinor," he cried, "you believe me, surely? Miss Darrell has always hated you, and this is her revenge." "Lady Darrell," said the girl, "I am ashamed of my hatred and ashamed of my desire for vengeance. There is no humiliation to which I would not submit to atone for my faults, but every word I have said to you is true." Once more with troubled eyes Lady Darrell looked from one to the other; once more she murmured: "Heaven help me! Which am I to believe?" Then Captain Langton, with a light laugh, said: "Is the farce ended, Lady Darrell? You see it is no tragedy after all." Pauline turned to him, and in the light of that noble face his own grew mean and weak. "Captain Langton," she said, "I appeal to whatever there is of good and just in you. Own to the truth. You need not be afraid of it--Lady Darrell will not injure you. She will think better of you if you confess than if you deny. Tell her that you were led into error, and trust to her kindness for pardon." "She speaks well," observed Lady Darrell, slowly. "If you are guilty, it is better to tell me so." He laughed again, but the laugh was not pleasant to hear. Pauline continued: "Let the evil rest where it is, Captain Langton; do not make it any greater. In your heart you know that you have no love for this lady--it is her fortune that attracts you. If you marry her, it will only be to make her unhappy for life. Admit your fault and leave her in peace."