“My capacity to harm you in here being checkmated, it was natural enough I should look for some other means. Surely you can see this.” And after a short pause I added with another laugh, “You have made me your enemy, you see, and must take the consequences.”
For a moment or two she said nothing, keeping her eyes fixed intently on my face, with an expression that baffled me.
“How were you going to do what you said to Ivan?”
“Isn’t that just a ridiculous question? I had to make up some sort of yarn for him. But you know how good I am at acting. I said what came first, of course; but I tell you I was going out to give these men the chance of getting at you easily—to set them on you, that is.”
Her eyes clouded and she frowned.
“Can you never tell me the truth, never be candid with me?”
“Surely you are unreasonable. How could I make a more perfectly candid declaration of war?”
“Do you wish me to think you utterly vile, that you paint yourself in these colours?” The cold steel tone gave place to a note of passion.
“I know what you think of me. You told me to-night; and I don’t see that anything could make it much worse.”
“Yet you have forgotten.” Her voice was cold steel again.