“Kiss me.”
“Count Halkar!” her voice sounded hollow and harsh, as if from a dead throat—“I will do what you please. Only release me.”
“Go then; but mind you resist me no more. I do not care for your kisses. You were ready enough once. But that idiot of a tutor has taken my place, I see.”
“Would to God I had never seen you!—never yielded to your influence over me! Swear that I shall be free if I find you the ring.”
“You find the ring first. Why should I swear? I can compel you. You know you laid yourself out to entrap me first with your arts, and I only turned upon you with mine. And you are in my power. But you shall be free, notwithstanding; and I will torture you till you free yourself. Find the ring.”
“Cruel! cruel! You are doing all you can to ruin me.”
“On the contrary, I am doing all I can to save myself. If you had loved me as you allowed me to think once, I should never have made you my tool.”
“You would all the same.”
“Take care. I am irritable to-night.”
For a few moments Euphra made no reply.