This carrying off and this bringing back of
Miss Vere,--the cold reception I have met with from her, and the excuses
with which you cover it, I believe to be mere evasions, that you may
yourself retain possession of the estates which are hers by right,
and make me, in the meanwhile, a tool in your desperate enterprise,
by holding out hopes and expectations which you are resolved never to
realize."
"Sir Frederick, I protest, by all that is sacred--"
"I will listen to no protestations; I have been cheated with them too
long," answered Sir Frederick.
"If you leave us," said Ellieslaw, "you cannot but know both your ruin
and ours is certain; all depends on our adhering together."
"Leave me to take care of myself," returned the knight; "but were what
you say true, I would rather perish than be fooled any farther."
"Can nothing--no surety convince you of my sincerity?" said Ellieslaw,
anxiously; "this morning I should have repelled your unjust suspicions
as an insult; but situated as we now are--"
"You feel yourself compelled to be sincere?" retorted Sir Frederick.
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