Part 116 (1/2)

”Oh, I'm not going to be made a scapegoat!” he cried savagely; but as his eyes met hers full of piteous appeal, his whole manner changed, and he caught her hands in his.

”Yes, I will,” he whispered. ”I'll bear it all. It can't be for long, and I may get off. Promise me--”

He said the rest of the words with his lips close to her ear.

”Your wife?” she faltered as she shrank away and crossed to her uncle.

”No, no, no!”

There was a sharp rap on the panel, the door yielded, and Sergeant Parkins stepped in.

”Mr Pradelle, eh?” he said with a grim smile. ”Glad to make your acquaintance, sir, at last. You'll come quietly?”

”Oh, yes, I'll come,” said Pradelle. ”I've got an answer to the charge.”

”Of course you have, sir. Glad to hear it. Sorry to put a stop to your pleasant little game. Shall I?”

”There's no need,” said Pradelle in answer to a meaning gesticulation toward his wrists. ”I know how to behave like a gentleman.”

”That's right,” said the sergeant, who, with a display of delicacy hardly to have been expected in his triumph at having, as he felt, had his prognostication fulfilled, carefully abstained from even glancing at the trembling girl, who stood there with agony and despair painted on her face.

”It ain't too late yet, Miss Louie,” said Pradelle, crossing towards her.

”Keep that scoundrel back, Parkins,” cried Uncle Luke.

”Right, sir. Now, Mr Pradelle.”

”Stop a moment, can't you?” shouted the prisoner. ”Miss Louie--to save him you'll promise, and I'll be dumb. I swear I will.”

Louise drew herself up as a piteous sigh escaped her breast.

”No,” she said firmly, ”I cannot promise that. Uncle dear, I have tried to save him to the last. I can do no more.”

”No,” said the old man, ”you can do no more.”

”Mr Pradelle,” she cried, ”you will not be so base?”

”Will you promise?” he cried.

”No.”

”Then--here, just a minute. You, Mr Luke Vine, will you give me a word?”

”No,” roared Uncle Luke. ”Take him away.”

”Then the sergeant here will,” cried Pradelle savagely. ”Look here, sit down and wait for a few minutes, and you can take Harry Vine as well.”

”What do you mean?” cried the sergeant roughly.

”Only that he has gone out to raise the money for a bolt to France, and he'll be back directly. Two birds with one stone.”