‘Nay, think not that I would willingly resort to violence,’ observed Blodget, in a milder tone of voice; ‘no, I would win you by my actions; by my love;—I would be to you the most ardent and affectionate companion that woman desire; I—’
‘Cease!’ interrupted Inez, in a commanding tone of voice, which seemed to enforce immediate obedience; ‘I will not listen to your guilty language, it disgusts me. Your presence makes me feel as if a fiend, instead of a human being, were standing before me; begone! and leave me again to the solitude of my unjust confinement.’
‘Not yet, fair Inez,’ returned Blodget, with a supercilious smile; ‘you and I must not part until we understand each other.’
‘I perfectly understand you, sir,’ said Inez, ‘and depend upon it, all that you can say will but add to the utter abhorrence which I bear towards you.’
‘But you must yield!’
‘Never!’
‘How can you save yourself? Are you not in my power?’
‘True; but I have a friend in Providence who will not suffer me to fall a victim to the nefarious designs of a diabolical villain like you.’
‘Upon my word you are very liberal with your compliments;’ said Blodget, with a half-sneering laugh, although it was very plain to be seen that he was very much chagrined at the manner in which our heroine addressed him.
‘Is there any epithet strong enough that I can apply to a man like you?’ demanded Inez. ‘Has not your conduct proved you to be a miscreant, too—’