"Yes," said Miss Ottley. She stopped and we looked deep into each other's eyes.
"Yes," she said again. "And we both love Frankfort Weldon."
"It is a good prayer. God will hear it," she said softly.
"What made you?" I asked a little later; we were walking on again--but now apart.
"I shall not go to the opera to-night," she said. "Will you put me in a cab?"
"He will be at work. I shall not see him."
"Not me, but Captain Weldon. He demands that I shall marry him. My father also wishes it. You see I tell you everything--now. You will help me, will you not?"
"Of course. But you must teach me how. In what fashion does Belleville threaten Weldon?"
"He vows--that unless I do as he demands within this week--Captain Weldon will be found dead in his bed."
"He does not scruple to conceal the fact. He declares he has nothing to fear. He pretends to possess a secret which gives him as great a power over life and death as Providence. An esoteric power, of course. It is connected with the discovery of Ptahmes. He claims to have already tested it. My father has used it in other ways. He has been experimenting on the Stock Exchange. In ten days he has already doubled his fortune. Surely of that you must have heard."
"I have heard that he has been speculating with extravagant success. But that his luck was due to supernatural agency I decline to believe. In my opinion Belleville is simply putting up a scoundrelly game of bluff."
"I wish I could think so, too. But I cannot."
"But, my dear girl, consider the probabilities. Belleville's story belongs to the Middle Ages."
"Yes--but he believes it. I am as sure of that as that I live."
"And is that a reason why you should believe it, too? The man is perhaps a lunatic."
"Ah!" she said. "I knew that you would take this view. That was partly why I felt you could not help me."
But her distress cut me to the quick. "It does not matter what view I take," I muttered hastily. "I'll do anything you wish."
"Then go and stay with Captain Weldon. He will welcome you, for he likes you out of mention. Spend the week with him. Do not let him from your sight at night. Especially guard him while he sleeps. Is it too much to ask?"
"There is a cab--stop it, please! Thanks. Now say good-bye to me."