His eyes were flashing, and Tamara's spirit rose.
"What a savage you are, Prince," she laughed. "Everything must be only as you wish! That I want to watch the bridge does not enter into your consideration."
"Not a bit."
"Well, then, since I must stay here I shall be disagreeable and not say a word."
And she sat down primly and folded her hands.
He lit a cigarette, and she noticed his hand trembled a little, but his voice was quite steady, and in fact low as he said:
"I tell you frankly, if you go on treating me as you have done today, whatever happens is on your head."
"Do you mean to strangle me then?—or have me torn up by dogs?" and Tamara smiled provokingly. With all the others in the room, and almost within earshot, she felt perfectly safe.
She had suffered so much, it seemed good to oppose him a little, when it could not entail a duel with some unoffending man!
"I do not know yet what I shall be impelled to do, only I warn you, if you tease me, you will pay the price." And he puffed a cloud of smoke.