It was too late now.

The confession would come no longer of my own free will, as it might have done an hour ago, but would be forced from me by the circumstances that impended.

Thus it would no longer have any virtue to recommend it to her mercy.
"The news seems hardly welcome, Monsieur de Lesperon," said Roxalanne in a voice that was inscrutable.

Her tone stirred me, for it betokened suspicion already.

Something might yet chance to aid me, and in the mean while I might spoil all did I yield to this dread of the morrow.