Don't ask me why; but, if you value
your safety, stay where you are, or go elsewhere, anywhere other
than to the house in Chatterton Place."
"I can hardly agree with you, Mr. Avec." Plainly Charlotte was
deeply impressed with the man's sincerity and earnestness. "My
brother's judgment is so much better than mine, that I--" and she
paused regretfully.
"I only wish," with his remarkable gracefulness, "that your
intuition were as strong as your loyalty to your brother. If it
were, you would know that I speak the truth when I say that I have
only your welfare at heart."
"I--I am sorry, Mr. Avec."
"Fortunately, there is one alternative," even more agreeable than
before. "If you prefer not to take my advice, but cling to your
brother's decision, you can still avoid the consequences of his
determination to live in that house. As I say, I cannot prevent
harm from befalling you, under present conditions; but these
conditions can be completely altered if you will make a single
concession, Miss Fenton."
"What is it?" eagerly.
"That you give me the ring!"
He paused for a very tense second. I wished I could see his
peculiar, young-old face--the face with the inscrutable eyes; the
face that urged, rather than inspired, both curiosity and
confidence.
Then he added:
"I know why you wear it; I realise that the trinket carries some
very tender associations.
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