In spite of your 'two essentials' you would be led to kill a
man sooner or later. Or you yourself would be killed. Have I the
right to allow all of that to continue?"
"Then you have decided to accuse me?"
"It is so hard to decide anything. You make it so hard; can't you see
that you do? . . . But, after all, my part is clear; if you will
consent to an examination and an operation I will say nothing of what
has happened. If you won't do that . . . you will drive me to tell
what I know."
"Our trails divide to-night, then? I had hoped for better than that,
Virginia."
Though her cheeks flushed, she held her eyes steadily upon his.
"I, too, had hoped for better than that," she confessed, finding this
no time for faltering. "I should continue to hope if you would just do
your part."
He came a swift step toward her. Then he stopped suddenly, his hands
falling to his sides. But the light in his eyes did not diminish.
"Denounce me to-morrow, if you wish," he said slowly, indifferently it
seemed to her. "Accept my promise that I will attempt no theft of more
gold to-night; give me this one last chance to talk with you. Before
some one comes, come out with me. You are not afraid of me; you admit
that I am sane. Then let us ride together. And let me talk with you
freely.
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