"That's my business. Leave this place at once." Darrel stood his ground doggedly. "I refuse to go. I refuse to give you up," he declared, with a growl like a wild beast disturbed at meal-time. "Your lover has been arrested. He will hang, and you will be my wife. I'll bring your pride down then." "Never! never! never! Frank can prove his innocence, and I will die sooner than be your wife. You betrayed him, you pitiful coward!" "I did not. Miss Berry learnt that he was here." "Through you," she flashed out. "No. On my soul!" he protested. "I said nothing. I don't know how she learnt it. But she did make the discovery, and told Berry. He came down here last night, and watched Jarman's cottage. He saw Lancaster enter, and waited outside the window. After a time he smashed the glass with his gloved hands, and sprang into the room with a revolver. Jarman overturned the lamp, and then--" "And then," said a new voice--that of Jarman who had stolen upon the two unobserved--"then Frank escaped in the darkness with Tamaroo." Darrel turned on the newcomer fiercely, but Mildred gave a cry of joy. "Frank has not been taken then?" she cried, clapping her hands. "This man"--she looked scornfully at Darrel--"says he was captured." "What do you mean by that?" demanded Eustace, who looked pale and ill, and was evidently in a sullen mood. "Because I'm sure he has been taken by this time. I saw Berry last night--" "Ah!" cried Mildred. "You came to help." "Yes, I did. I wanted Lancaster removed from my path. Berry came to the Rectory to ask for my assistance. But he knew already where to find the man. I went with him to the cottage--" "And you lurked outside, not being man enough to enter," said Jarman, with a sneer. "I turned Berry out pretty sharp. Being an American, he has yet to learn that an Englishman's house is his castle." "And you have to learn, Mr. Jarman, that you have been compounding a felony in sheltering this criminal." "Frank is not a criminal!" cried Mildred, with a stamp. "Ah you defend your brother's murderer," sneered Darrel, savagely. "Don't talk rubbish, Darrel," interposed Jarman. "You know well enough that Lancaster is innocent." "He is not. He certainly escaped last night, but Berry is on his track. Lancaster may disguise himself, but Tamaroo will be spotted in a mighty short time. They can't escape." "Why did you tell me that Frank was arrested?" asked Mildred. "I thought you would be pleased," he said sulkily. "No. You thought it would wound my heart, you coward! Go away!" She stamped her foot. "I hate the sight of you." "Mildred," said Eustace, quietly, though he felt a pang at seeing how she defended Frank, "let me attend to this gentleman." "I sha'n't move till he goes," said she, obstinately. "You had better go," said Eustace, suggestively, to the Rhodesian. "And leave the field to you," he answered, with a taunting laugh. "How many more lovers have you, Miss Starth?"