"Before we dwell upon this point," she said, "I beg you listen to a proposal I am about to make you."
"You know that since my brother's death, I have become sole heir to my father's fortune. His will also gives me full, lawful control of all."
"Certainly!" returned Henry, in astonishment, he had no idea where this would end.
"Well, then, I am ready to make over to you the whole fortune as the price of my freedom."
Alison started back, he had all at once become pale, and his glance, with a mysterious, threatening expression, fixed itself full upon her face.
Jane stepped hastily to her writing-desk, and drew a paper from a portfolio lying there.
"I have already drawn up the necessary paper; you will see from it that I keep back nothing except what is in my hands at this moment. It is a sum sufficient to afford me a support here in Germany, but scarcely worth mention in comparison with that which will fall to your share. The legal execution of this may take place any day, whenever you wish; the transaction naturally remains a secret to all save those immediately interested. I offer you all I possess; only leave me free!"
She reached him the paper. Silently Alison took it from her hands, silently he read it through; the paleness of his face grew yet deeper, and the paper rustled strangely in his hands. At last he laid it deliberately upon the table, and crossed his arms.
"Before all else, I request you, Miss Forest, to change the tone in which you see fit to speak to me. One does not meet a man who holds one's whole future in his hands, with such--contempt."
A hasty flush passed over Jane's face; her voice had unwittingly betrayed her sentiments as she made this proposal. "I do not see," she replied, "why we should seek to deceive each other. You won me for my fortune and hold fast the hand upon which it depends. I would relieve you from a troublesome appendage to this fortune, and myself from a hated tie. You are merchant enough to appreciate the advantages of my offer; and I have lived long enough in America to take into account the value it will be to you there."
Jane did not dream what a fearful game she was playing at this moment, and she did not suffer herself to be warned by the low, hissing sound that again came from Henry's lips, as upon that evening, when he had listened to her conversation with Walter. His calmness quite deceived her.