She guessed his purpose.
"Wait!" she gasped, and put forth her hand.

He paused, the rope in his, his eye kindling anew.

"You...

you mean to kill Richard now ?" she asked him.
A swift lifting of his brows was his only answer.

He tugged the cord.
From the distance the peal of the bell reached them faintly.
"Oh, wait, wait!" she begged, her hands pressed against her cheeks.