She will see what none of you have seen--she shall have the room.' Francis listened, utterly at a loss to account for the motives that animated her.

'I don't see what interest you have in trying this extraordinary experiment,' he said.
'It is my interest not to try it! It is my interest to fly from Venice, and never set eyes on Agnes Lockwood or any of your family again!' 'What prevents you from doing that ?' She started to her feet and looked at him wildly.

'I know no more what prevents me than you do!' she burst out.

'Some will that is stronger than mine drives me on to my destruction, in spite of my own self!' She suddenly sat down again, and waved her hand for him to go.

'Leave me,' she said.