“He was silent a moment, gazing into my eyes with a hard, mesmeric gaze, but I shuddered and looked away. He sighed, and said: “‘I cannot bring myself to kill you, as I killed that old man in the heat of passion; you are too beautiful to destroy in wanton malice. I will reason with you, and show you why you must, in self-defense, keep the secret of this old man’s death.’ “I listened defiantly, for I was determined, if I escaped, to denounce him. My heart was burning with sympathy for the wronged girl and her murdered father. “But the first words he uttered were these astounding ones: “‘If you should escape and betray me, you would at once blacken your own character irretrievably.’ “I stared at him in horror and dismay, and he smiled grimly as he added: “‘When it became known that you were here with me alone, in one of the vilest houses in Chicago--a house that no decent lady would dare to enter--what would the world say of you, Miss Mead?’ “As I gasped for breath to answer, he added, tauntingly: “‘I fell in love with you at the Fair, and determined to make you my own. Fate played into my hands, and I succeeded in fooling you into this house, and I never meant to let you go until I had wearied of my new toy. That wine was drugged, and I would have forced it down your throat only for the entrance of that old man! Well, I have no time to linger in love’s dalliance now! I must escape before this crime is found out. I must let you go, lovely one, still pure and innocent. That is,’ darkly, ‘if you will promise to let me go free and keep your lips sealed on the events of this night. Refuse, and--you are still in my power!’ “Oh, Lena, the awful threatening, the dread import of his looks and words almost struck me dead at his feet! I gasped, like one dying: “‘Open the door and let me go, and I will never betray your agency in this awful deed!’ “He knew I spoke the truth; he knew that a young girl’s honor is dearer to her than life. His awful secret was safe in my hands. “‘You shall go unharmed,’ he said. ‘I am sorry to give you up, but it is the price I must pay for my crime. Luckily I brought you in by a private door, and no one saw your face. It need never be known that one of the most beautiful and virtuous girls in the world entered this house, and after remaining half an hour, left it as pure as when she came into it. That old man’s death saved your honor, beautiful one. Now come,’ and drawing my vail close, I followed him unnoticed into the street, where the rain was still pouring in sheets like another deluge. “‘You must endure my presence until I can find you a carriage,’ he said; but this was soon accomplished, and I thanked Heaven when the carriage door closed on his evil, smiling face, and I was rolling toward my hotel.