"Stand aside, Effendi!" cried Goritz furiously, and as the man did not move, he caught him by the shoulder and thrust him roughly aside. He scorned to use a weapon, and the other man and the woman seemed completely dominated by his air of command.
"You will please come at once, Countess Strahni. There is no telling how soon the police will be coming."
And as Marishka did not move—
"You heard?"
"I will not go," stammered Marishka.
Goritz paused, examining her keenly, as though he had not quite understood.
"I have asked you quite courteously, Countess——"
"I will not go," repeated Marishka. Her voice was ice-cold, like her body, which seemed to be frozen into immobility.
"I beg to remind you of your promise—to go with me——"
"I will not go," she said again.