"That may be, but I have not, Mr. Felix Briarfield. I fulfilled my promise and went down with Strent to that lonely inn. Your brother came, and you know that he never left it again. I have fulfilled my promise. I now require you to fulfill yours and make me your wife." "I cannot! I cannot!" he said in a faint voice, wiping his brow. "For Heaven's sake take this money I offer you and leave me." "I have mixed myself up with crime for your sake, and you offer to put me off with money. It is useless! Your promise I have, and that promise I require you to keep, or else----" "Or else----" "I'll tell the truth to the police." "And thus involve yourself in ruin with me." "I don't care," she said sullenly; "anything would be better than the torture I am enduring at your hands." "And what will you tell the police?" asked Felix in an unnatural voice. "You know well enough! I shall tell them how you killed your brother." "It is false!" he said passionately. "I neither saw nor laid a finger on my brother." "Indeed! Then if you are innocent who is guilty?" "I don't know!" "Did you not come to the Fen Inn on that fatal night when Francis came?" "Yes, but I never saw him." "You saw him, and killed him." "It is a lie!" It was neither Felix nor Rose who spoke, but Olivia, who, in spite of all I could do, broke in on the astonished pair. The man advanced toward her, but she waved him back. "I defend you, sir," she said proudly, "because I know that this woman speaks falsely, but I have also to demand an explanation from you." Felix paid no attention to the remark, but simply stared at her in a stupefied manner. "Olivia!" he said in a low voice, "how did you come here?" "I brought her, Mr. Felix Briarfield," said I, stepping forward. "You, Denham! And for what reason?" I pointed to Rose Gernon, who stood quietly by with a malignant smile on her face. "There is the reason," I retorted meaningly, "and Miss Bellin----" "Miss Bellin will speak for herself," said Olivia in a peremptory tone. "Miss Bellin speaks of what she does not understand," interposed Rose vehemently. "Because I deny that Francis killed Felix?" questioned Olivia. "No, because you deny Felix killed Francis." "What do you mean, Miss Gernon?" I asked rapidly. "I mean that this man whom Miss Bellin thinks is her lover Francis is Felix Briarfield, and Felix Briarfield," she continued, "is my lover." "No!" said Felix hurriedly, "it is not true." I expected to see Olivia grow angry, but in place of this a bright smile irradiated her face as she looked at Felix. I could not conjecture the meaning of her action, and began to grow uneasy. Rose also looked anything but comfortable; evidently she had met with her match in Olivia. "I overheard part of your conversation," said Olivia, addressing her pointedly. "Very honorable, I am sure," retorted Rose, with a sneer.