"I must know all. You helped the man they call the Bat? You sent him goods he needed; drugs among other things, although you knew he would use some to poison people and make the superstitious negroes think him a magician?" "Yes," said Wyndham. "At least, I gave him drugs. I don't altogether know how he used the stuff." "He poisoned the explorers who went into the bush." "It's possible," said Wyndham. "I think that's all." "Still you knew he was cunning and cruel. You knew he killed people who wouldn't obey him and he used magic." "I don't know much about Voodoo and can't state if it's magic or tricks. However, I imagine the Bat did use it against people who disputed his rule." "He gave you valuable goods; you were getting rich," Flora resumed. Then she paused and added in a gentler voice: "He gave you pearls; but you sent me none, although Bob brought some for Mabel. You said they were unlucky." "It looks as if I was a romantic sentimentalist. Anyhow, I didn't want you to wear pearls I got from the Bat." "Yet you were willing to trade with him! You gave him your support!" "I did," said Wyndham grimly. "For a tempting price. Now my luck has turned and I won't get the price. My reward has vanished when it was in my hands. Nothing is left." Flora pondered. In a sense, she thought he exaggerated, because much was left. All the same, she was glad he had been cheated and the reward for his wrongdoing had gone. He might have wanted to keep it, and her refusal to share it might have separated them. Still she would not think about this yet. She must break down his stern calm and much depended on the line she took. "You misjudged me and perhaps that accounted for your giving way," she said. "You thought I hadn't pluck enough to marry you when you were poor? My dear, I loved you and knew you were not rich!" "You hadn't known poverty. There was another thing; your father made stipulations and of course he was justified. I was forced to satisfy him and your friends. Would you have liked them to pity you for a romantic fool whom a common adventurer had carried away?" "Ah," said Flora, "you didn't know my friends much better than you know me! Mabel's my friend and she let her lover go away. I think it hurt Bob when he found out what you had done; but has he turned from you?" Wyndham said nothing and she resumed: "However, all this is not important now. You can't go on. What are you going to do?" "It looks as if Bob had made some plans for me. I don't know yet if I'll consent. My plan is simpler and would save him trouble and risk. It depends on you if I carry it out." Flora gave him a quick glance, for his manner was baffling. He looked stern and his mouth was set. "How does it depend on me?" she asked.