Since then, an idea has struck me, which may be useful--an idea so desperate, so uncertain--involving a proposal so absolutely dependent, as to its successful execution, on the merest chance, that I refuse to confide it to you except on one condition." "Mention the condition! I submit to it before hand." "Give me your word of honor that you will not mention what I am about to say to your sister until I grant you permission to speak.

Promise me that when you see her shrinking before the terrors of death to-night, you will have self-restraint enough to abstain from breathing a word of hope to her.

I ask this, because there are ten--twenty--fifty chances to one that there _is_ no hope." "I have no choice but to promise," answered Trudaine.
Lomaque produced his pocket-book and pencil before he spoke again.
"I will enter into particulars as soon as I have asked a strange question of you," he said.

"You have been a great experimenter in chemistry in your time--is your mind calm enough, at such a trying moment as this, to answer a question which is connected with chemistry in a very humble way?
You seem astonished.

Let me put the question at once.