It was an accusation. He saw the flush of anger
fading out of her cheeks. Her body relaxed, her head dropped, and
slowly she nodded in confirmation.
"Yes, I am going to sell myself to him."
The astounding confession held him mute for a space. In the interval it
was the girl who became self-possessed. What she said next amazed him
still more.
"I have confessed so much because I am positive that you will not
betray me. And I went up to the Shack to find you, because I want you
to help me find a story to tell McDowell. You said you would help me.
Will you?"
He still did not speak, and she went on.
"I am accepting that promise as granted, too. McDowell mistrusts, but
he must not know. You must help me there. You must help me for two or
three weeks, At the end of that time something may happen. He must be
made to have faith in me again. Do you understand?"
"Partly," said Keith. "You ask me to do this blindly, without knowing
why I am doing it, without any explanation whatever on your part except
that for some unknown and mysterious price you are going to sell
yourself to Shan Tung. You want me to cover and abet this monstrous
deal by hoodwinking the man whose suspicions threaten its consummation.
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