s saying. "I'm hanged if I take the
responsibility. If you had trusted me we might have lifted the gold
without the loss of a drop of blood."

"You are so worthy of trust!" Evelyn's voice answered with bitterness.

"Have you ever known me to break my word? But let that pass. You chose
to reject my love and invite that meddler Sedgwick into our affairs.
What is the result? What have you gained?"

"A knowledge of the difference between the love of a true man and that
of a false one," she answered quietly.

"A true man! Oh, call him a fool and be done with it."

"Perhaps, but I could love such folly."

He seemed to strangle his irritation in his throat.

"A lot of good it will do! You belong to me. That is written in the book
of your life, and what is to be will be. And I'll get the treasure,
too."

"Never! You call them fools, but they have outwitted you from start to
finish."

"They've pulled the chestnuts out of the fire for me, if that is what
you mean."

"And as for me, I'm only a girl, but I swear before Heaven I'd rather
sink a knife into my heart than give myself to you."

He clapped his hands ironically with a deep laugh like the bay of a
wolf.

"Bravo! Well done! You'd make a fortune in tragedy, Evie. But dramatics
apart, you may make up your mind to it. I'm your master, and before
twenty-four hours shall be your mate. Why else have I brought this
broken wretch of a priest along, but to tie the knot in legal fashion?
I'm a reasonable man. Since you have a taste for the conventional and
decorum you shall have them. But priest or no priest, willy nilly, mine
you are and shall be."

"You think everybody is a fool but yourself. Can't I see why you want
the marriage? It's not to please me, but through me to give you a legal
claim on the treasure."

"Why do you always stir up the devil in me? I love you. I want to please
you. I'll treat you right if you'll let me."

"Then send me back to the yacht, Boris. I'll give my word to divide the
treasure with you. My friends will do as I say. You don't want to break
my heart, do you? Think of all the dreadful murder that has been done by
you."

"Not by me, but by you and your friends. I offered to compromise and
you would not. Now it is too late. No, by God! I'll play the game out to
a fighting finish."

She gave a sobbing little cry.

"Have you no heart?"

His voice fell a note. He moved close to her.

"_Cherie_, you have stolen it and hold it fast