There was a brief silence. The midnight hour was very still. They could hear the tide booming in upon the shore, the solemn, mysterious voice of the sea. To poor Daisie it seemed to murmur of despair. “Do you see what I am trying to get at, Daisie? Do you understand me? In my regret for the terrible mistake I made in uniting your fate to Royall’s, in my sorrow for my poor boy, and my wish to secure his happiness, I am willing to make a bargain with you--the strangest bargain ever made--to shield a cruel murderer for the sake of his victim. Grant me this boon, Daisie: Be true to Royall for the brief span of his life--whether long or short--give him the obedience of a wife, and I, on my part, will keep your lover’s terrible secret, and let him go free, his only punishment his accusing conscience.” Again silence, and Daisie felt as if the last fold of the serpent were wound around her, crushing her to death. She cried desperately: “Dallas did not do it--never, never!” “I saw him with my own eyes,” Mrs. Fleming returned, with cold malice, and waited for the answer. Meanwhile, Daisie asked herself, in anguish, if she could bind herself by such a terrible promise--to give up her lover, whom she believed innocent; her lover, whom she loved with the passion of her life--and bind herself to Royall Sherwood for the time that he should live. “And who knows but that he may recover? This woman may be deceiving me to gain her point,” whispered her heart; and she remained silent so long that Mrs. Fleming exclaimed impatiently: “Well, what do you say? What will you do?” Daisie’s beautiful violet eyes, now dark with emotion, brimmed with tears as she cried piteously: “Oh, give me a little time to decide--until to-morrow!” “You wish to warn Dallas Bain that his crime is known, that he may escape!” sharply. “No--no, for he is innocent, and if accused can no doubt prove it!” the girl cried proudly. “How? By an alibi? How long had he left you when you were called here?” demanded the widow suspiciously, fearing the failure of her scheme. But Daisie’s answer set her fears at rest. “No, I could not prove an alibi for Dallas, because he left me at my door as soon as he had taken me home; but of course he went straight to his hotel, and can no doubt prove where he was at the time you thought you saw him here. Oh, believe me, you have made a terrible mistake in imputing this deed to him. Why should he wish to kill your cousin to set me free, when he knew that the law would break my fetters so easily?” pleaded Daisie wildly. “It was jealous malice. He feared that Royall might persuade you to remain his wife.” “Ah, no; for Dallas knew my love too well,” began Daisie; but they were interrupted by a tap on the door to summon them to Royall, who had awakened. Mrs. Fleming whispered pleadingly: “Oh, Daisie, be kind to my poor cousin. Tell him you will stay with him as long as he lives.”