This time his tone was more serious.
"Lady Cranston," he begged, "won't you please leave us ?" "No!" she answered hysterically.

"I know why you want me to, and I won't go! You have done no harm, and nothing shall happen to you.

I will not leave the room, and you shall not--" His gesture of appeal coincided with the sob in her throat.

She broke down in her speech, and Captain Griffiths moved a step nearer.
"If you have any weapon in your possession, sir," he said, "you had better hand it over to me." "Well, do you know," Lessingham replied, "I scarcely see the necessity.
One thing I will promise you," he added, with a sudden flash in his eyes, "a single step nearer--a single step, mind--and you shall have as much of my weapon as will keep you quiet for the rest of your life.
Remember that so long as you are reasonable I do not threaten you.

Help me to persuade Lady Cranston to leave us." Captain Griffiths was out of his depths.