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me； thinking again。 All I could see was that he took off his hat
and passed his handkerchief over his forehead。 All I could hear
was that he talked to himself excitedly in his own language。
〃There was a change in him when he came back。 His face had turned
to a livid yellow； and his eyes looked at me with a hideous
distrust。
〃 'One last question；' he said； and suddenly came closer to me；
suddenly spoke with a marked emphasis on his next words： '_What
is your interest in this？_'
〃I started back from him。 The question reminded me that I _had_
an interest in the matter； which was entirely unconnected with
the interest of keeping Manuel and Midwinter apart。 Thus far I
had only remembered that Midwinter's fatalism had smoothed the
way for me； by abandoning Armadale beforehand to any stranger who
might come forward to help him。 Thus far the sole object I had
kept in view was to protect myself； by the sacrifice of Armadale；
from the exposure that threatened me。 I tell no lies to my Diary。
I don't affect to have felt a moment's consideration for the
interests of Armadale's purse or the safety of Armadale's life。 I
hated him too savagely to care what pitfalls my tongue might be
the means of opening under his feet。 But I certainly did not see
（until that last question was put to me） that； in serving his own
designs； Manuel mightif he dared go all lengths for the
moneybe serving my designs too。 The one overpowering anxiety to
protect myself from exposure before Midwinter had （I suppose）
filled all my mind； to the exclusion of everything else。
〃Finding that I made no reply for the moment； Manuel reiterated
his question； putting it in a new form。
〃 'You have cast your Englishman at me；' he said； 'like the sop
to Cerberus。 Would you have been quite so ready to do that if you
had not had a motive of your own？ I repeat my question。 You have
an interest in thiswhat is it？'
〃 'I have two interests；' I answered。 'The interest of forcing
you to respect my position here； and the interest of ridding
myself of the sight of you at once and forever！' I spoke with a
boldness he had not yet heard from me。 The sense that I was
making the villain an instrument in my hands； and forcing him to
help my purpose blindly； while he was helping his own； roused my
spirits； and made me feel like myself again。
〃He laughed。 'Strong language； on certain occasions； is a lady's
privilege；' he said。 'You may； or may not； rid yourself of the
sight of me； at once and forever。 We will leave that question to
be settled in the future。 But your other interest in this matter
puzzles me。 You have told me all I need know about the Englishman
and his yacht； and you have made no conditions before you opened
your lips。 Pray； how are you to force me； as you say； to respect
your position here？'
〃 'I will tell you how；' I rejoined。 'You shall hear my
conditions first。 I insist on your leaving me in five minutes
more。 I insist on your never again coming near the house where I
live； and I forbid your attempting to communicate in any way
either with me or with that other gentleman whom you saw with me
at the theater'
〃 'And suppose I say no？' he interposed。 'In that case； what will
you do？'
〃 'In that case；' I answered； 'I shall say two words in private
to the rich young Englishman； and you will find yourself back
again among the chorus at the opera。'
〃 'You are a bold woman to take it for granted that I have my
designs on the Englishman already； and that I am certain to
succeed in them。 How do you know？'
〃 'I know _you；_' I said。 'And that is enough。'
〃There was a moment's silence between us。 He looked at me； and I
looked at him。 We understood each other。
〃He was the first to speak。 The villainous smile died out of his
face； and his voice dropped again distrustfully to its lowest
tones。
〃 'I accept your terms；' he said。 'As long as your lips are
closed； my lips shall be closed tooexcept in the event of my
finding that you have deceived me； in which case the bargain is
at an end； and you will see me again。 I shall present myself to
the Englishman to…morrow； with the necessary credentials to
establish me in his confidence。 Tell me his name？'
〃I told it。
〃 'Give me his address？'
〃I gave it； and turned to leave him。 Before I had stepped out of
the shelter of the boats； I heard him behind me again。
〃 'One last word；' he said。 'Accidents sometimes happen at sea。
Have you interest enough in the Englishmanif an accident
happens in his caseto wish to know what has become of him？'
〃I stopped； and considered on my side。 I had plainly failed to
persuade him that I had no secret to serve in placing Armadale's
money and （as a probable consequence） Armadale's life at his
mercy。 And it was now equally clear that he was cunningly
attempting to associate himself with my private objects （whatever
they might be） by opening a means of communication between us in
the future。 There could be no hesitation about how to answer him
under such circumstances as these。 If the 'accident' at which he
hinted did really happen to Armadale； I stood in no need of
Manuel's intervention to give me the intelligence of it。 An easy
search through the obituary columns of the English papers would
tell me the newswith the great additional advantage that the
papers might be relied on； in such a matter as this； to tell the
truth。 I formally thanked Manuel； and declined to accept his
proposal。 'Having no interest in the Englishman；' I said； 'I have
no wish whatever to know what becomes of him。'
〃He looked at me for a moment with steady attention； and with an
interest in me which he had not shown yet。
〃 'What the game you are playing may be；' he rejoined； speaking
slowly and significantly； 'I don't pretend to know。 But I venture
on a prophecy； nevertheless_you will win it！_ If we ever meet
again； remember I said that。' He took off his hat； and bowed to
me gravely。 'Go your way； madam。 And leave me to go mine！'
〃With those words； he released me from the sight of him。 I waited
a minute alone； to recover myself in the air； and then returned
to the house。
〃The first object that met my eyes； on entering the sitting…room；
wasArmadale himself！
〃He was waiting on the chance of seeing me； to beg that I would
exert my influence with his friend。 I made the needful inquiry as
to what he meant； and found that Midwinter had spoken as he had
warned me he would speak when he and Armadale next met。 He had
announced that he was unable to finish his work for the newspaper
as soon as he had hoped； and he had advised Armadale to find a
crew for the yacht without waiting for any assistance on his
part。
〃All that it was necessary for me to do； on hearing this； was to
perform the promise I had made to Midwinter； when he gave me my
directions how to act in the matter。 Armadale's vexation on
finding me resolved not to interfere expressed itself in the form
of all others that is most personally offensive to me。 He
declined to believe my reiterated assurances that I possessed no
influence to exert in his favor。 'If I was married to Neelie；' he
said； 'she could do anything she liked with me； and