‘It’s death,’ repeated Miss Spencer, and gradually her head and shoulders sank back, and hung loosely over the chair. Nella was conscious of a sudden revulsion. The woman had surely fainted. Dropping the revolver she ran round the table. She was herself again--feminine, sympathetic, the old Nella. She felt immensely relieved that this had happened. But at the same instant Miss Spencer sprang up from the chair like a cat, seized the revolver, and with a wild movement of the arm flung it against the window. It crashed through the glass, exploding as it went, and there was a tense silence. ‘I told you that you were a fool,’ remarked Miss Spencer slowly, ‘coming here like a sort of female Jack Sheppard, and trying to get the best of me. We are on equal terms now. You frightened me, but I knew I was a cleverer woman than you, and that in the end, if I kept on long enough, I should win. Now it will be my turn.’ Dumbfounded, and overcome with a miserable sense of the truth of Miss Spencer’s words, Nella stood still. The idea of her colossal foolishness swept through her like a flood. She felt almost ashamed. But even at this juncture she had no fear. She faced the woman bravely, her mind leaping about in search of some plan. She could think of nothing but a bribe--an enormous bribe. ‘I admit you’ve won,’ she said, ‘but I’ve not finished yet. Just listen.’ Miss Spencer folded her arms, and glanced at the door, smiling bitterly. ‘You know my father is a millionaire; perhaps you know that he is one of the richest men in the world. If I give you my word of honour not to reveal anything that you’ve told me, what will you take to let me go free?’ ‘What sum do you suggest?’ asked Miss Spencer carelessly. ‘Twenty thousand pounds,’ said Nella promptly. She had begun to regard the affair as a business operation. Miss Spencer’s lip curled. ‘A hundred thousand.’ Again Miss Spencer’s lip curled. ‘Well, say a million. I can rely on my father, and so may you.’ ‘You think you are worth a million to him?’ ‘I do,’ said Nella. ‘And you think we could trust you to see that it was paid?’ ‘Of course you could.’ ‘And we should not suffer afterwards in any way?’ ‘I would give you my word, and my father’s word.’ ‘Bah!’ exclaimed Miss Spencer: ‘how do you know I wouldn’t let you go free for nothing? You are only a rash, silly girl.’ ‘I know you wouldn’t. I can read your face too well.’ ‘You are right,’ Miss Spencer replied slowly. ‘I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t let you go for all the dollars in America.’ Nella felt cold down the spine, and sat down again in her chair. A draught of air from the broken window blew on her cheek. Steps sounded in the passage; the door opened, but Nella did not turn round. She could not move her eyes from Miss Spencer’s. There was a noise of rushing water in her ears. She lost consciousness, and slipped limply to the ground. Chapter Ten AT SEA