Rather it was the man's pride which suffered: the pride of a high spirit which found itself helpless between the hammer and the anvil, in a position so false that hereafter men might say of the unfortunate that he had bartered his mistress for his life.

He had not! But he had perforce to stand by; he had to be passive under stress of circumstances, and by the sacrifice, if she consummated it, he would in fact be saved.
There was the pinch.

No wonder that he cried to her in a voice which roused even the servants from their lethargy of fear.
"Say it!" he cried.

"Say it, before it be too late.

Say, you did not promise!" Slowly she turned her face to him.