Page:Chipperfield--Unseen Hands.djvu/274

262 what has been going on in this house; that I actually know nothing; and my testimony would be valueless, besides leaving me open to the danger of being sent back to that awful place." She wrung her hands. "I will kill myself before they take me again!"

Odell saw that in the face of the morbid fear which obsessed her no argument of his would avail; but he did not yet despair of winning her confidence. Abruptly he switched the topic back to its original trend.

"Why do you say that your purpose has been taken out of your hands?"

She smiled faintly.

"You have anticipated me, have you not? One look at Cissie Chalmers's face just now told me that the net must have closed about Farley Drew without any help from me; and my masquerade here is at an end." She rose and held out her hands appealingly. "You will not subject me to further humiliation? I have hurt no one in this family by my presence here. I have performed my ostensible duties as faithfully as any real servant could have done. Let me go quietly before morning; and keep my secret. Further notoriety and shame will kill me; and I swear that I have done no harm! Please, Sergeant Odell, instruct your men to let me go in peace; and I will return to the home of my old servant and not leave it until you tell me that I may. I will give you the address, and you can have one of your men follow me if you don't believe me; but for Heaven's sake let me leave this house of hideous memories!"

"But, Mrs. Gael, what is it that you know of Farley Drew? You spoke of criminal things. Have you always been aware of them?"