"It is just as well not to let him know," said Theriere. "It
gives you an advantage that would be wanting should he
suspect the truth, so that now you are always in a position to
be warned in plenty of time against any ulterior suggestion he
may make. Keep me posted as to all he tells you of his plans,
and in this way we can defeat him much more easily than as
though you followed your natural inclinations and refused to
hold communication of any sort with him. It might be well,
Miss Harding, even to encourage him in the hope that you
will wed him voluntarily. I think that that would throw him
entirely off his guard, and pave the way for your early
release."
"Oh, I doubt if I could do that, Mr. Theriere," exclaimed
the girl. "You cannot imagine how I loathe the man now that
I know him in his true colors. For years he has importuned
me to marry him, and though I never cared for him in that
way at all, and never could, I felt that he was a very good
friend and that his constancy demanded some return on my
part--my friendship and sympathy at least; but now I shiver
whenever he is near me, just as I would were I to find a
snake coiled close beside me. I cannot abide treachery."
"Nor I, Miss Harding," agreed Theriere glibly.
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