Restlessness and gloom began
to weigh upon her and she was in continual conflict with herself.
She began to think of disobeying Durade. Something would happen to
him sooner or later, and in that event what was she to do? Why not
try and escape? Whatever the evil of Benton, it was possible that
she might not fall into bad hands. Anything would be better than her
confinement here, with no sight of the sun, with no one to speak to,
with nothing to do but brood and fight her fancies and doubts, and
listen to that ceaseless, soft, mysterious din. Allie believed she
could not long bear that. Now and then occurred a change in her mind
which frightened her. It was a regurgitation of the old tide of
somber horror which had submerged her after the murder of her
mother.
She was working herself into a frenzied state when unexpectedly
Durade came to her room. At first glance she hardly knew him. He
looked thin and worn; his eyes glittered; his hands shook; and the
strange radiance that emanated from him when his passion for
gambling had been crowned with success shone stronger than Allie had
ever seen it.
"Allie, the time's come," he said. He seemed to be looking back into
the past.
"What time?" she asked.
"For you to do for me--as your mother did before you.
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