could you do him by going? There's an understanding between her and him.
He'll be all right. Now _you_ would not."

Max stared at the girl in perplexity. She spoke with confidence, with
knowledge. A great dread on his friend's account began to creep over
him. Why should Dudley be safe where he himself was not, unless he were
in league with the old hag? Or, again, was it possible that
Carrie--pretty, sweet-faced Carrie--was acting in concert with the gang,
detaining him so that Dudley might be an easier prey to her accomplices?

As this suspicion crossed his mind, he, knowing his own weakness,
resolved to act without the hesitation which would be fatal to his
purpose.

Seizing her by the arm, he drew her almost roughly out of the way, and,
opening the door, went out into the ante-room.

But before he could open the outer door, Carrie had overtaken him and
seized him by the arm in her turn.

"No, no," said she, passionately. "I will not let you go. You don't know
what you are rushing into; you don't know what I do."

"What do you mean?"

"That if you were to go into that house again, you wouldn't leave it
alive!"

"All the more reason," said Max, struggling to free himself from the
tenacious grasp of her fingers, which were a good deal stronger than he