cannot you see that I am in deadly earnest? Man, man," she added, while, with her tiny hands she seized the young man suddenly by the shoulders, forcing him to look straight at her, "tell me, do I look like that vilest thing on earth--a woman who would betray her own husband?""God forbid, Lady Blakeney," said the young man at last, "that I should attribute such evil motives to you, but. . .""But what?. . .tell me. . .Quick, man!. . .the very seconds are precious!""Will you tell me," he asked resolutely, and looking searchingly into her blue eyes, "whose hand helped to guide M.
Chauvelin to the knowledge which you say he possesses?""Mine," she said quietly, "I own it--I will not lie to you, for I wish you to trust me absolutely. But I had no idea--how COULDI have?--of the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel. . .and my brother's safety was to be my prize if I succeeded.""In helping Chauvelin to track the Scarlet Pimpernel?"She nodded.
"It is no use telling you how he forced my hand. Armand is more than a brother to me, and. . .and. . .how COULD I guess?. . .
