“Yes, you do love me,” she said softly.

“There, quick! in there! He must not know.”

“And why?” she said calmly, as she clung to him. “I do not fear him; and as for you,” she cried, with a look of pride, “you are brave and strong. Let him come: kill him as you would some wretched snake.”

He gazed at her half in wonder, half in horror, as she laughed mockingly, but there was a look of intense hatred and disgust in her eyes which told him how truly earnest were her words—how great her loathing for this man.

At that moment there was a tapping at the door, and Dale crossed to it quickly.

“Yes?” he said.

“This gent would like to see you, sir,” came in Keren-Happuch’s voice, and a card was shot under the door.

He caught it up, and hesitated a moment.

“Not at home,” he said.

“Please, sir, I said as you was.”