Richard tried to think of something suitable to such an extraordinary occasion, but could not. ‘You have hopelessly compromised yourself with him, and he shall marry you.’ ‘Never!’ said Teresa, with every nerve tingling with a girl’s pride. ‘I will die first!’ ‘Very well,’ said Mr. Craig, with frightful calmness, ‘you will die, Teresa.’ [Illustration: 0180] His lips were white, and his eyes blazed as he opened the clock-case and took there from a revolver. ‘Mr. Craig,’ said Richard, ‘may I beg you to remain calm?’ ‘I am entirely calm, sir. Teresa, you have never heard your mother’s story. It is the remembrance of that story which makes me firm now. Some day you shall hear it. You may think me mad, but I am not so. You may think me of uncertain temper, mysterious, secretive, a bully, perhaps a criminal. Well, you must think those things; but when you know all, if ever you do know all, you will forgive all.’ His voice softened a little, and then grew firm again. ‘In the meantime, you shall marry Mr. Redgrave. You have visited his room at an unconscionable hour; he has visited this house at an hour still more unconscionable, and there is only one alternative to marriage. I am quite serious when I say that I would sooner see you dead than that you should remain single after this episode. I have seen what I have seen. I know your blood. I know what darkened my life, and darkened your mother’s life, and finally killed her.’ ‘You threaten----’ Teresa began. ‘Stop, Teresa!’ Richard exclaimed masterfully, and turning to Raphael Craig: ‘Mr. Craig, nothing will suit me better. I have the honour to ask your daughter’s hand.’ Teresa started violently. ‘As Teresa’s father,’ said Craig solemnly, ‘I give her to you. May she prove a worthy wife!’ ‘And you?’ Richard questioned, gazing at Teresa. ‘What a farce!’ Teresa sobbed; but at the same moment, try how she might to prevent it, a smile lighted her tears, and her hand found Richard’s hand. Mr. Craig put the revolver back into the clock-case. ‘I expect you know that we didn’t yield to that tool of yours,’ said Richard half playfully. ‘I am truly fond of Teresa--that is the explanation. You wouldn’t have used that revolver, though you are certainly in some ways a strange man.’ ‘As you are good enough to say, Redgrave, I am a strange man. I should have used the revolver.’ The way in which these words were uttered created a profound impression on Richard. Releasing Teresa’s hand, he began to consider what course he should now adopt in the joint interest of himself and of Teresa. He could not dismiss the suspicion that he had a madman to deal with. ‘If I may,’ said he to Mr. Craig, ‘I should like a few words with Teresa outside. After that there are several things to be settled between you, sir, and me.’ Mr. Craig nodded. ‘It is late,’ he said. ‘Yes,’ said Richard, ‘but such nights as this do not follow every day in the week.’