"Oh—" she moaned.
"I've taught him," Dulac said, his voice quivering with rage. "It was time… the vermin. Because he was rich he thought he was safe. He thought he could do anything…. But I've taught him. They starve us and stamp on us—and then steal our wives and smirch our sweethearts."
Ruth tried to bend over Bonbright, to lift his head, to give him assistance, but Dulac jerked her away.
"Don't touch him. Don't dare to touch him," he said.
"He doesn't—move," she said, in a horrified whisper. "Maybe you've-killed him."
"He deserved it…. And you—have you anything to say? What are you doing here—with him?"
"Let me go," she panted. "Let me see—I must see. He can't be—dead. … You—you BEAST!" she cried, shrilly. "He was good. He meant no harm…. He loved me, and that's why this happened. It's my fault—my fault."
"Be still," he commanded. "He loved you—you admit it. You dare admit it—and you here alone with him at night."
"He asked—me—to—marry—him," she said, faintly. "He was not—what you think…. He was a good—boy."
Suddenly she tried to break from him to go to Bonbright, but he clutched her savagely. "Help!… Help!…" she cried. Then his hand closed over her mouth and he gathered her up in his arms and carried her away.