“You shall _not_ tell her!” “But how will you prevent me?” “You shall not _see_ her!” “But she is determined to see _me!_” “She will be told that you are not there.” “And how long do you imagine that that will satisfy her?” There was a pause. They looked at van Tuiver, expecting him to speak. And so I heard once more his cold, deliberate voice. “We have done all we can. There can no longer be any question as to the course to be taken. Mrs. Abbott will not return to my home.” “What?” I cried. I stared at him, aghast. “What do you mean?” “I mean what I say--that you will not be taken back to the island.” “But where will I be taken?” “You will be taken to the mainland.” I stared at the others. No one gave a sign. At last I whispered, “You would _dare?_” “You leave us no other alternative,” replied the master. “You--you will practically kidnap me!” My voice must have been rather wild at that moment. “You left my home of your own free will. I think I need hardly point out to you that I am not compelled to invite you back to it.” “And what will Sylvia----” I stopped; appalled at the vista the words opened up. “My wife,” said van Tuiver, “will ultimately choose between her husband and her most remarkable acquaintance.” “And you gentlemen?” I turned to the others. “You would give your sanction to this outrageous action?” “As the older of the physicians in charge of this case----” began Dr. Gibson. I turned to van Tuiver again. “When your wife finds out what you have done to me--what will you answer?” “We will deal with that situation when we come to it.” “Of course,” I said, “you understand that sooner or later I shall get word to her!” He answered, “We shall assume from now on that you are a mad woman, and shall take our precautions accordingly.” Again there was a silence. “The launch will return to the mainland,” said van Tuiver at last. “It will remain there until Mrs. Abbott sees fit to go ashore. May I ask if she has sufficient money in her purse to take her to New York?” I could not help laughing. The thing was so wild--and yet I could see that from their point of view it was the only thing to do. “Mrs. Abbott is not certain that she is going back to New York,” I replied. “If she does go, it will not be with Mr. van Tuiver’s money.” “One thing more,” said Dr. Perrin. It was the first time he had spoken since van Tuiver’s incredible announcement. “I trust, Mrs. Abbott, that this unfortunate situation may at all costs be concealed from servants, and from the world in general.” From which I realized how badly I had them frightened. They actually saw me making physical resistance! “Dr. Perrin,” I replied, “I am acting in this matter for my friend. I will add this: that I believe that you are letting yourself be overborne, and that you will regret it some day.”