He gave a single glance toward her. Then he sighed and shook his head gently as before. He turned the handle of the door. “Don't open that door, for God's sake! She is the daughter of Carton Standish, who killed your brother.” He did not give a start nor did he utter a cry as she whispered those words. He only turned and looked at her. He looked at her for a long time--several seconds. The silence was awful. The clock on the bracket chimed the second quarter. “My God! mad--this woman is mad!” he said, in a whisper that sounded like a gasp. She made no attempt to reply. He went to her. “What have you said?” he asked. “I don't seem to recollect. Did you say anything?” “I stated a fact,” she replied. “I am sincere when I say that I would to God it were not true.” “She--she--my beloved--the daughter--it is a lie--you have told me a lie--confess that it is a lie!” “I cannot, even though you should make your fingers meet upon my arm!” He almost flung her away from him. He had grasped her by the wrist. He covered his face with his hands. She looked at her wrist--the red marks over the white flesh. “I'll not believe it!” he cried suddenly. “Agnes, Agnes; you will confess that it is a falsehood?” “Alas! Alas!” she cried, “I'll not believe it. Proofs--where are your proofs?” “This is the letter which she brought to me from her mother--the letter written by her mother on her deathbed.” She unlocked an escritoire, and took out a letter. He glanced at it, and gave a cry of agony. “O God--my God! And I cursed him--I cursed him and every one belonging to him!” He threw himself into a chair and bowed his head down to his hands. “I prayed that evil might fall upon all that pertained to him,” he cried. “My prayer has been heard. The curse has fallen!” “Is there any tragedy in life like the answering of a prayer? I prayed for your safe return, and--you returned.” She spoke without bitterness. There was no bitterness in her heart at that moment. There was a long pause before he looked up. “And you--you--knowing all--avowed us to be together--you did not keep us apart. You brought this misery upon us!” “I thought you were safe from such a fate; it was only when we were at the Court that I learned that you loved her; even then I believed that she loved another man. When I said those words of warning to you a week ago, what was your reply tome? 'Do not make me wish that I had never seen you.' Those were your words.” “And what shall my words be now?” A little thrill went through her. She turned upon him.