"The man who used that seal committed one of the worst crimes of which a man can be guilty." "What was it; tell me?" she asked quickly. "Surely Dudley never committed any offence!" "I am not certain," I answered gloomily. "An enemy who would pose as a friend, as he has done, might be capable of any deceit." "Have I not already told you that he was not your enemy, Geoffrey?" she observed calmly. "Ah, Ella," I cried in disgust, "all these falsehoods only render your conduct the more despicable. You will deny next that you went down to Warnham to meet him surreptitiously." "To Warnham?" she cried, white to the lips. "Yes. Do you deny it?" "No. I--it is quite true that I met him there," she faltered. "You spent the day with my rival, unknown to me," I went on bitterly. "Yet you declare that you never loved him?" Her breath came and went in short, quick gasps, her haggard eyes were fixed; she stood silent, unable to make reply. "It is useless to further prolong this painful interview," I exclaimed at last, turning from her. "I swear I never loved him," she cried suddenly. "Some day, when you know the truth, you will bitterly regret how you have misjudged me, how, while striving to serve you, I have fallen under suspicion." "But your visit to Warnham!" I said. "Is that an act such as can be overlooked without explanation?" "I only ask you to place trust in me, and I will prove ere long that I acted under compulsion." "You want me to believe that he held you irrevocably in his power, I suppose?" I said with biting sarcasm. She nodded, and held her head in downcast, dejected attitude. "It is easy enough to allege all this, now that he is dead," I observed doubtingly. "I have told you the truth. I feared him, and was compelled to obey," she exclaimed hoarsely. "What was the object of your visit? Surely you can explain that?" "No. I cannot." "You absolutely refuse?" "Absolutely," she answered, in a low, strained voice, looking straight at me with an expression of determination. "Then we must part," I said, slowly but firmly disengaging myself from her embrace. "No, no," she wailed, sobbing bitterly and clinging more closely to me. "Do not be so cruel, Geoffrey. You would never utter these words could you know all." "But you will not tell me," I cried. "At present I dare not. Wait; be patient, and you shall know everything." "How long must I remain in doubt and ignorance?" I asked. "I know not. To-morrow the bond of secrecy may be removed from my lips, or it may be many months ere I can fearlessly speak and explain," she answered in a strange voice, almost as if speaking to herself. "From your words it would appear that some person still holds power over you, even though Dudley is dead," I said, looking into her eyes seriously.