200 DEVASTATION (2)

Finally, she spoke.

"Two men came to the house regularly until now," Johanna began.

"Two men? What men?" Rochester demanded.

"The one man, I saw him first on my way back from visiting my sick father one day, and... "

"And what?" Rochester pressed, but Johanna suddenly went mute. "What's the matter with you? Cat's got your tongue?"

"I...I deserve to die!" Johanna squealed, suddenly falling to her knees.

"What sort of theatrical performance is happening now?" Rochester demanded.

"I...I...they threatened to harm my sick father!"

"Who did?" Rochester crouched down to her level, searching for her eyes. "I'm asking you, Johanna, who did and for what?"

"Those men...they did. They came regularly to steal information from me about you," Johanna fidgeted.

"So, what you are saying is that you are some spy?!" Rochester sprang up at once. "When did you start trading information with these men? And when were you planning on informing me about this?"