Dora made no reply. In spite of his asseverations of innocence, she saw that he felt himself in a trap. His pallid face, his wild eyes, his trembling hands--all these signs hinted at a realization of his helpless position. Week by week since that fatal conversation he had grown thinner and more haggard. He was the shadow of the comely lover who had met her by the wayside when she had taken him to see Edermont. He looked round the room, as though searching for some means of escape. One would have thought that the officers of the law were already at the door, and that he was guilty. Dora knew that this was not the case, but could not be sure until she heard his explanation. Suddenly he threw up his hands with a gesture of despair. "I was mad on that night," he said in a hoarse tone. Dora drew back with a gasp. Was he about to confess to the crime and allege temporary insanity by way of excuse? A violent trembling seized all her limbs, and she was obliged to lean against the table while waiting for his next words. "You say Joad saw me?" he asked, looking at her. "Joad can denounce me?" "No," she murmured, "he will not denounce you." "But why should he show me such mercy?" cried Allen with haggard surprise. "He admires you; he is jealous of me. To get rid of me he would willingly place a noose round my neck." "That is true, Allen. But--you are safe from him. He--he has asked me to be his wife." "Ah!" said he, jealously seizing her hands. "And you--you---- No!" He abruptly tossed her hands away. "You could never bring yourself to marry that wretch, even for fifty thousand pounds." "He does not wish for that money," said Dora, with a calmness which surprised herself; "he wants me." "Like his insolence! Of course you told him that such a thing was impossible!" Dora raised her eyes to his with a look of pain. "How could I?" she said slowly. "He saw you at the Red House on that night." "Dora"--Allen again seized her hands--"you are sacrificing yourself to save me?" "I can do no less, Allen. I love you. Ah!" she cried, with a burst of tears, "you will never know how I love you. I have suffered from your cruelty, your desertion, from your strange silence, but I still love you, as I have always done. As I cannot be your wife and make you happy, I can still marry this man and save you from the consequences of your crime." "Dora! You do not believe that I am guilty?" "No, Allen, no; still, I cannot understand. You have refused me your confidence; you say you were mad on that night. Morally speaking, you are innocent, I am certain. But still, in a moment of anger----" "I swear that I did not touch him!" cried Allen violently. "I admit that I was at the Red House on that night. He asked me to come." "I guessed that. Joad posted a letter to you."