Mentally he cursed himself for a fool. So sure had he been that the charges Labar had made against this girl could only be explained by one reason--that she was fully in Adèle Gertstein's confidence--that he had let slip enough to enable her to make a guess somewhere near the truth. It was not Larry Hughes' habit to talk loosely. However, it could not be helped. He had acted on the assumption that the knowledge she had might make disclosures from her dangerous. He realised that he had been wrong. He might have left her alone and all Labar's efforts to extract anything from her that would have inculpated Larry would have been vain. But now by his own act he had made her the very menace he had feared. The guard that he had ever maintained upon himself had been incautiously relaxed. At least it was not irretrievable. He was where he had thought himself to be. Scotland Yard would have a long way to go ere it would be able to bring any crime against him. The girl shrank as far from him as the limits of the car would allow. "But why this?" she demanded. "Why are you carrying me away, and where are you taking me?" He made an impatient little gesture. "I am taking you away because you are not safe in London. You need have no fear. You will be well looked after." Penelope did not miss the sinister construction that might have been put upon his words. She felt herself shudder inwardly. But to the man she presented a brave front. "Why?" she demanded again. "I am nothing to you. I insist that you put me down." "And let Labar twist you as he will. I am not raving mad." With a sudden movement he possessed himself of her hands. "Penelope, you are something to me. Can't you understand, child? You are everything to me." "No," she protested. "Do not touch me." He paid no heed. "I want you, child. I have wanted you ever since I met you. Listen. You have no one to consider but yourself. I am rich--richer than you could imagine. I can give you everything that the world holds. You and I together. Will you marry me?" "No," she declared, vehemently. "Marry a thief--a blackmailer--God knows what--no!" He flung her roughly from him. He had heard harder words in his life and had met them sneering and unmoved. But somehow to hear them from her stung him. "You think you won't--now," he said viciously. "But you will, my girl. If you think you can set your silly obstinacy against my will, my dear, and win, you are booked for trouble. I have given you your chance and I don't permit man nor woman to stand in my way. Bigger people than you have learnt that." She returned no answer. The car turned from the smooth road, and slowed as it took a rough track through a windswept marshland. In a little it came to a halt. "Here we are," said Larry Hughes. CHAPTER VIII