“That you shall not!” he exclaimed, dragging her towards the end of the hall opposite to the usual entrance, and where he knew that there must be a door behind the screen of plants. His hold tightened upon her yielding waist. Her head fell back and her full lips parted in an ecstasy of delight as she felt herself hurried along in his arms, scarcely touching the floor with her feet.
“Ah—now—now! Let it come now!” she sighed.
“It must be now—or never,” he said almost roughly. “If you will leave this house with me now, very well. But leave this room you shall. If I am to meet that man and stop him, I will meet him alone.”
“Leave you alone? Ah no—not that——”
They had reached the exit now. At the same instant both heard some one enter at the other end and rapid footsteps on the marble pavement.
“Which is it to be?” asked the Wanderer, pale and calm. He had pushed her through before him and seemed ready to go back alone.
With violent strength she drew him to her, closed the door and slipped the strong steel bolt across below the lock. There was a dim light in the passage.
“Together, then,” she said. “I shall at least be with you—a little longer.”
“Is there another way out of the house?” asked the Wanderer anxiously.
“More than one. Come with me.”