"Well, no; I shall not do that just now. However, as I see you do not believe me, I should like to give you an opportunity of changing your mind. Come with your father to my rooms in St. James's to-morrow and I will show you the revolver." "I dare say you have the weapon," put in Mr. Scarse; "but how do we know where you found it?" "I can prove that. Come to-morrow and convince yourselves. Then I will make my terms." "Your terms?" "Yes. My silence must be bought--but not with money. You, Mrs. Burton, must give me your promise to marry me when you become a widow." "I am not a widow yet," said Brenda, trying hard to keep up her courage, "and, please God, I shall never be!" "Amen!" sneered Van Zwieten, as the train slowed down, "we shall see. But I hold the winning card, and I intend to play it for my own benefit. Here we are, so I will leave you now. To-morrow at three I shall be at my rooms. If you do not come I will see the police about the matter." "Very good," said Brenda, much to her father's surprise. "I will be there." "Come now, you are sensible!" sneered Van Zwieten, "I shall make something out of you yet, Mrs. Burton." "Get out!" shouted Mr. Scarse, fiercely, "or I'll throw you out!" "Ah, bad temper, Scarse. Keep that for those who are fighting our Republics. _Au revoir_ until to-morrow," and Van Zwieten, jumping lightly out of the compartment, made for a smoking-carriage. "Why did you agree to meet the blackguard?" fumed Mr. Scarse when the train was moving off again. "You know he is lying!" "No, I don't think he is." "What? do you believe your husband guilty?" "I wouldn't believe it if an angel from heaven told me so!" flashed out Mrs. Harold Burton. "But Van Zwieten has this revolver with Harold's name on it or he would not dare to speak so confidently. I will find out where he got it. He might have stolen it from Harold, or he might have had the name put on the silver plate. Harold is not here to contradict him. To-morrow we will take Wilfred with us. He will know if the revolver is Harold's or not. In the meantime I will see Lady Jenny. Harold told me to go to her if Mr. van Zwieten made himself disagreeable. The time seems to have come." "But what can she do?" "I don't know; but that is what I must find out. We will baffle this man yet. Oh, father, and to think that you once wanted me to marry him!" "I was wrong, my dear, very wrong," Mr. Scarse said penitently; "but at any rate you are married now to the man of your choice." "Harold, my darling!" Brenda's tears burst out afresh. "God knows if I shall ever see him again!" She wept bitterly. Truly, poor Brenda was hard beset. Meantime Van Zwieten was swearing at his own stupidity in not having kept a sharper eye on Harold. But he had not expected the young man--whom he had regarded as his victim--to display such daring.