"Do you
think her life's in danger?"
"Worse than that!" said Swain thickly, his face suddenly livid. "Oh,
worse than that!"
I confess that I caught something of his horror; but I shook myself
impatiently.
"I can't believe that," I said. "But, in any case, our men will be at
hand. At the least outcry they will burst into the house. And
remember, the three servants are there."
"They cut no figure. If they didn't hear those screams the other
night, do you think they would hear any others? You must get her away
from there, Mr. Lester," he went on rapidly. "If she won't come of her
own accord, you must use force."
"But, my dear Swain," I objected, "I can't do that. Do you want me to
kidnap her?"
"Just that--if it's necessary."
"Then I'd soon be occupying a cell here, too. I don't see what good
that would do."
"It would save her," he asserted, doggedly. "It would save her. That's
the only thing to consider."
But I rose to my feet in sudden impatience; what consideration was she
showing for him or for me or for anyone?
"You're talking foolishly," I said. "You'd much better be thinking of
your own danger; it's much more real than hers.
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