"You heard what I said, Lieutenant Mazenas. If you wish to insult me by doubting my statement----" "Far from it, beautiful Estella, far from it. But--but----" "I am heartily glad to hear the news you bring. I trust that, as Mr. Sherwood has escaped, he will now manage to keep out of your clutches. Is there anything else you wish to see me about?" He could not misunderstand her now, and the smile faded, and a look of fury blazed forth in his eyes. "You think you have won!" he hissed, "but you will soon discover your mistake. As to the news you say I bring, I have reason to believe that you knew of it, as I had questioned one of your servants before I came in." "Well?" "Howard Sherwood has escaped, but the officers are on his track, and I have every reason to believe that he will be recaptured before sundown, in which case he will be shot within the hour." "You had better go, and at once," she managed to say, but it cost her a great effort. "I am not done yet. I wish to know if you are still disposed to be obdurate regarding the marriage proposal I made to you." "I shall never change; I cannot consider you in the light of a suitor. I told you that before." "Then you wish sentence to be carried out upon Howard Sherwood as soon as he is caught? Remember, when the prisoner is retaken, his fate rests with me." "You had better catch him first," returned Estella. "I fancy, now that he is free, Mr. Sherwood will know how to take care of himself." The ring in her voice made him suspicious. He strode up to her and caught her by the arm. "You know where he is!" he declared, "even though you may not have assisted him to escape. Ha! you turn your face away! I am right! Where is he? I command you to tell me!" "You can command what you choose, Lieutenant Mazenas, and I will answer as I choose." "You cannot defy me in this way. Don't you know that it is a crime to assist an escaped prisoner, especially a war spy?" he cried. "Were I to give an order, you would be thrown into a dungeon!" "Then give the order--if you dare!" she panted. "You know I will not--that is, if we can come to terms," he added, hastily. "The same terms that you mentioned before, I presume," she sneered. "Yes. Listen, Estella; you must become my wife, sooner or later. Then why not at once, and thus save yourself further trouble." "The greatest trouble that could come to me would be to become your wife," she replied. "I would much prefer a dungeon, with a diet of bread and water." Again his anger began to arise. He strode to her side and caught her by the arm. "You little Tartar, I will yet tame you!" he cried, in a passion. "I will teach you to kneel at my feet, even if I cannot make you love me. You shall be mine--I have sworn it! You have gone too far--I will teach you a lesson!"