"No. His patience is exhausted. He is beginning to realize that I'd rather die."
"The police can stop all this nonsense." But Laurie spoke without his customary authority.
"Don't imagine that. The police know nothing about this matter, and they never will." A sudden thought struck her and she rose almost with a spring. He rose, too, staring at her in bewilderment. She caught his shoulders and held them tightly, in a grip wholly free from self-consciousness.
"If you warn the police," she said swiftly; "if you draw them into this, you will ruin everything. You will do me a harm that could never be undone. Give me your word that you won't. Please, please!"
She was almost shaking him now. Under the clasp of her hands on his shoulders Laurie paled a little, but his black eyes held hers steadily.
"Of course I promise," he said, slowly, "as you make such a point of it."
She removed her hands and stepped back.
"Please go now."
"So soon? Why, I've only just come!"