He spoke, briefly, with iron coldness.
"The choice is yours.

Only--if you refuse to give her--the sanctuary of widowhood--I will! After all it would be the safest way for all concerned." Dacre went back a pace.

"Going to murder me, what ?" he said.
Monck's teeth gleamed in a terrible smile.

"You need not--refuse," he said.
"True!" Dacre was looking him full in the eyes with more of curiosity than apprehension.

"And--as you have foreseen--I shall not refuse under those circumstances.