CHAPTER ELEVENVerena was for the moment unable to speak because of the pressure of Jasper Royd’s fingers on her throat.
Then, as he released her, Giles, jumping up from where he had been crouching behind a Bullion box, exclaimed,
“Verena! What on earth are you doing here? Why did you follow us?”
The “Evil Genius” relaxed his grip and Verena, her hands going to her bruised neck, managed to reply,
“I thought – you would – w-wish me to be – with – you!”
“You thought nothing of the sort!” Jasper Royd yelled. “Tell me the truth, you were spying on us, were you not?”
Verena looked into his face and knew that somehow she must try to extricate herself from the danger she was in.
“No – of course – not,” she stammered.
Her words ended in a cry as he slapped her hard across the cheeks.
“You
