When they complied with all the conditions that would safeguard Mackenzie, she had determined to act.

But Graeme must be master of the situation.
Cautiously she went through her usual elaborate precautions to shake off any shadows that might be following her, and an hour later found her with Mackenzie.
"What has happened!" he asked eagerly, surprised at her early visit.
Briefly she ran over the events of the afternoon.

"Would you be willing," she asked, "to go to District Attorney Wickham, hand over the half million with, say, twelve thousand dollars interest, in return for freedom ?" Graeme looked at Constance a moment doubtfully.
"I would not do that," he measured slowly.

"How do I know what they will do, the moment they get me in their power?
No.

Almost, I would say that I would not go there under any guarantee they might give.