“That will be decided in the future,” said Rankin. “For the present I have a legal right to Ariadne, and I shall have to the boy!”
“Do you mean you would dare to lay hands on a woman?” cried Madeleine, extending her arms across the door.
Rankin turned, and in one stride had reached the window, which stood open to the hot, rainy summer night. He was gone in an instant.
“Quick! quick! Lock the front door!” cried Madeleine, fumbling with the key. She turned it and darted into the hallway, and fell back, crying angrily: “Oh, no! there’s the back door—and the doctor’s office and all the windows. It’s no use! It’s no use!” She broke into a storm of sobs. “You didn’t help a bit!” she cried furiously to the other woman. “You didn’t even try to help!”
It was an accusation against which Marietta did not attempt to defend herself.
CHAPTER XXXV
THE SWAYING BALANCE
Dr. Melton was at the top of the stairs as the other man came bounding up. “Where in God’s name have you been?” he demanded. “Did you start as soon as my messenger—”