Page:Marsh--The seen and the unseen.djvu/198

174 scription conveys. I am the individual to whom life has become an insupportable burden."

"It is impossible!"

"How impossible?"

"It is impossible that to mademoiselle life can already have become an insupportable burden."

So far the woman's intonation had been curiously sweet, with something in it which suggested the voice of a child. Now it perceptibly changed. It became, as it were, a little caustic.

"Will monsieur have the goodness to confine himself to the matter which is in hand? I am here at monsieur's particular request. What is it monsieur would wish that I should do?"

"I cannot conceive that mademoiselle is in earnest."

She showed signs of impatience. "How shall I convince monsieur? Does he desire from me an oath? I am ready. If, in exchange for a particular amount, monsieur will tell me what is the task he requires from me, which shall inevitably result in death, by my actions I will quickly prove that I am in earnest, at least, so far as that."

"But surely mademoiselle must perceive that she has me at a disadvantage. She knows me by name, by sight, she would even know my private affairs, yet she will not even suffer me to see her face."

"I am but an instrument. What does it matter what an instrument looks like, so long as that which it does is done efficiently?"

"Suppose, on the other hand, that, so soon as I have shared with mademoiselle my confidences, she goes from here to the police."