"Be silent!" she interrupted fiercely. "You did what you could! To insure your own safety you sent him on a desperate, unworthy mission--to worm his way into the confidence of a drunkard, to steal for you, to be your jackal. What did you care what the consequences might be! What did you care, so long as your own reputation and wealth were saved! He was to be one other--my poor Basil--one other of those to be crushed beneath the great wheels!" "It is not fair," replied Deane, "to make such statements. Your brother knew his risks, and he took them." "Knew his risks!" she repeated. "You mean that because you were on your feet when he was on the ground, you would make use of him like any other lump of mud you would spurn with your foot if you had not found a use for it. He did your bidding, poor fool, but where he failed, I succeeded. You have to deal with me now, and I think that it is my turn to make terms!" Deane looked at her curiously. "At last," he said, "you are going to admit your possession of that little document?" "At last," she admitted, "I am going to tell you that I have it!" "And to name your price?" he asked. There was a queer little sound in her throat, like an unnatural laugh. "My price! Yes, that is another matter!" CHAPTER XII A STRANGE BETROTHAL Southward, through the country lanes whose hedges were still wreathed with late honeysuckle, on to the great mainroad, Deane's car was driven through the night,--always southward, till the lights of the great city flared before them up into the sky. Deane himself, for hour after hour, had sat back in his corner, buried in thought. His companion was even more invisible, but as the end of the journey drew near he roused himself with an effort, turned on the electric light which hung down from the roof of the car, lit a cigarette, and, bending forward, looked into the half-hidden face of the girl who was reclining by his side. "My dear fiancée," he said, "we are nearing London. Won't you rouse yourself and give me your further orders?" She sat up, with a little yawn. "Let down the windows, please," she said. "We will have some fresh air in for a few minutes." He obeyed her at once. The sweet midnight air through which they were rushing was like a douche of cold water upon her face. "How far are we from London?" she asked. "Less than twenty miles. Unless we are stopped, we shall certainly be there in half-an-hour." "Why did you disturb me?" she asked. "To know your wishes." "You had better leave me at one of the small hotels in the west end," she said. "I daresay you can think of one at which you are known. In the morning, please come and see me and bring some money. I shall want to engage a companion and a maid, and to buy some clothes." Deane looked at her curiously. Her manner was perfectly natural. "Anything else?" he asked calmly. "I don't think so," she answered.