"Hold your tongue," whispered Harry hoarsely, and she moaned as she writhed in spirit. "There are reasons why my father should not know of this visit." "So I suppose," said Leslie sternly; "and you ask me to be a partner by giving way to a second blow to that true-hearted, trusting man. Louise Vine, is it you who are speaking, or has this man put these cruelly base words in your mouth?" "What can I say? What can I do?" wailed Louise, wringing her hands, as with every sense on the strain she listened for her father's step. Harry, who now that the first shock had passed was rapidly growing more calm and calculating, bent down over his sister, and whispered to her again in French to go quickly, and get her hat and mantle. "He will not dare to stop us," he said. Louise drew a long breath full of pain, for it seemed to be the only way to save her brother. She must go; and, taking a step or two she made for the door. "No," said Leslie calmly, "it is better that you should stay, Miss Vine." Harry was at her side in a moment. "Never mind your hat," he whispered in French, "we must go at once." "Stand back, sir!" cried Leslie, springing to the door. "Your every act shows you to be a base scoundrel. You may not understand my words, but you can understand my action. I am here by this door to keep it till Mr Vine returns. For the lady's sake, let there be no violence." "Mr Leslie, let us pass!" cried Louise imperiously, but he paid no heed to her, continuing to address his supposed rival in calm, judicial tones, which did not express the wild rage seething in his heart. "I say once more, sir, let there be no violence--for your own sake--for hers." Harry continued to advance, with Louise's hand in his, till Leslie had pressed close to the door. "Once more I warn you," said Leslie, "for I swear by Heaven you shall not pass while I can lift a hand." At that moment, in the obscurity, Louise felt her hand dropped, and she reeled to the side of the room, as now, with a fierce, harsh sound, Harry sprang at Leslie's throat, pushed him back against the door in his sudden onslaught, and then wrenched him away. "Quick, Louise!" he cried in French. "The door!" Louise recovered herself and darted to the door, the handle rattling in her grasp. But she did not open it. She stood as if paralysed, her eyes staring and lips parted, gazing wildly at the two dimly-seen shadows which moved here and there across the casement frames in a curiously weird manner, to the accompaniment of harsh, panting sounds, the dull tramping of feet, heavy breathing, and the quick, sharp ejaculations of angry men. Then a fresh chill of horror shot through her, as there was a momentary cessation of the sounds, and Leslie panted. "Bah! then you give in, sir!"