“I cannot.” “You mean you won’t. I command you, Violet. Do you hear?” Her head sunk obstinately on her breast. “I shall never tell.” CHAPTER XIV THE UNKNOWN POISON I sat fascinated. This was not the Violet Bredwardine I had known. The girl had sprung up into a woman, and the woman was making a brave fight for me more than herself. If my name came out she would be no worse off than she was already, as far as her connection with the death in the Domino Club was concerned. Her father would have to know that she and I had been friends in the past, but he need know nothing more. It was I who stood in danger. It would be useless for me to deny that I had drugged Weathered, and had carried off the case-book. His death would lie at my door unless it could be proved that something had been given to him that night in addition to opium. And it would take very strong evidence to convince a jury that there had been anyone else concerned in that night’s business besides me. Whether her refusal to betray me was due only to loyalty, or to a faint survival or revival of the love I had forfeited, I could not tell. I only knew that my own heart was touched anew, and I longed more than ever to redeem myself in her eyes and wipe out the past. The Earl of Ledbury controlled his wrath with an effort. He may have seen that it would be useless to persist just then. He may have feared to press his daughter too far in our presence lest she should make some admission that would bring her within reach of the law. “Very well; if that is your attitude, you have ceased to be my daughter. You will pack up your things and go to London by the afternoon train. I shall wire to Miss Pollexfen to meet you, and you can stay in my house till she has found you a home with some respectable family; and I shall pay for your board as long as you choose to remain with them. Beyond that I have done with you. Now go.” Violet got up, shivering all over, to obey. Her misery was too acute for me to indulge in selfish thoughts of what her forced emancipation might mean for me. The Earl turned to Sir Frank as if by an afterthought. “Have you gentlemen anything else to ask Lady Violet before she goes?” My chief passed on the question to me by a nod. His own expression was one of pity. I caught at the opportunity. “Nothing for the moment, but I presume your lordship will be willing to let us have Lady Violet’s new address if we should want it later on.” It was the first time I had spoken since Lord Ledbury came into the room, and he glared at me as though resenting my presumption. “Lady Violet is of age,” he said shortly. “I have just been reminded of that. She is her own mistress; you had better ask her.” Violet slowly turned and faced me. I threw all I dared of longing and pleading for forgiveness into the look I gave her. The despair in her eyes found a dull echo in her tone. “I will send you my address as soon as I know it. But it will make no difference. I....”