[_Recoils in horror and puts her hand over her mouth._] You never----
I never spoke a word, but my thought somehow drilled its way into his brain, and when I woke in the morning the thing was done.--Rouse yourself! You are the daughter of a man born for greatness, a man who does what others dream of! You love me, and you dare not disobey! [_She raises her eyes to his in a fascinated, half-stupefied way._] Read that letter!
[_Utterly unnerved._] I can't read! What is it?
Adene has come back from Bhojâl. He is almost dying, but---- Do you see that?
[_Taking the letter back and speaking in a tone of anger and fear._] Selim is with him!
Then Selim can defend you, not I! [_He stops her as he is trying to rise._] Oh, let me go!
Selim won't defend me! After that morning he knew too much. It was two nights later, in the jungle.--Are you listening?
Yes. You murdered him too! What is it you want of me?
No! The wretch knew what was in my mind. He dodged my stroke, and I only cut through his arm, and he went over, wounded, to the enemy.
Now this Adene has hunted him out, and they are going to Travancore to Koreb's prison.
Vera, you are sobbing like a hysterical girl. Look things in the face! There is no question of murder.
Oh! it is all murder! [_Gets up._] There is nothing but murder! You have done too much, and they are crowding from their graves against you. There is no escape--oh, thank God, there is no escape! Now I can forgive you everything; you have only to suffer and let them hunt you to death!
[_Rising._] No escape? Is it Adene and two half mad natives you are afraid of?
Oh, make me see that what you did was right! I shall believe everything. Only I am weak, and I can't bear it if you leave me without help.
Vera take my hands--[_She does so._]--look me in the face. My cause was worth a war, and I made it. It claimed Koreb and Selim, and I sacrificed them. Am I now to prolong the life of one dying man that all the sacrifices of the past may be wasted? Do you see?
Yes, I am stronger now. I don't care about the past. I will do what you bid me.
Well, the first thing is to telegraph--[_He makes a slight pause: then deliberately_]--so that he shall come to England and miss Rheinhardt.
[_Throughout this scene_ CARLYON _has fixed his eyes on_ VERA, _controlling her with them, except for sudden outbreaks. Her manner gradually becomes submissive and dazed, as if she were answering each question in answer to the outside stimulus, without fully understanding what she said._