“I don’t know what he thought. I am not in Lovelace’s confidence.”
“Sit down by my side!” she commanded.
I dropped to the ground and lay down; my lips closed on hers; she rested in my arms. Neither of us spoke; nor did we move. For some minutes we had remained thus, when I began to experience a sensation of vague discomfort which rapidly changed to one of fear. Something inimical and powerful emanated from her body to mine. I withdrew my lips and she sought them with hers. I slackened my arms and hers tightened about me.
“Let me go!” I exclaimed. “What are you? For God’s sake, let me go!”
Brutally I tore her arms away and flung her from me as a man would fling away a snake that had coiled round him in his sleep. She sighed deeply and moaned.
“Pray do not leave me. I am ill.”
But I walked rapidly away, unheeding. In an instant she was with me, soft-footed, eager-eyed. She watched me as a panther watches its prey. Her mouth smiled with mysterious knowledge, and her intuitive elflike hands were spread out before her. In my terror I imagined I could feel evil oozing from her pores.
“Stay with me! Love me!” she said in a voice of most treacherous music.
I turned upon her with arms upraised and fists clenched, threatening her, but she sank all shuddering upon my breast.
It was then that I was overcome by panic fear. Tearing her from me, I ran to the entrance-gate, rushed down the pathway and on to the road, and escaped to the hotel. Then I sought Lovelace.