"You believe and trust a notorious seducer like this man?" asked Mrs Hamilton of Mavis.
"Whatever I am, I ain't that," cried Williams.
"To a man who has ruined more girls than anyone else in London?" continued Mrs Hamilton. "I solemnly warn you that if you go with that man it means your ruin—ruin body and soul."
Mrs Hamilton spoke in such a low, earnest voice, that Mavis, who now recollected Mr Williams's previous behaviour to her, was inclined to waver.
Mrs Hamilton saw her advantage and said:
"Since you disbelieve in me, the least you can do is to go upstairs and take off my clothes."
"She'll do nothing of the kind," cried out the man.
"He doesn't want to lose his prey," Mrs Hamilton remarked to Mavis, who was inclined to falter a little more.
Perhaps Williams saw the weakening of the girl's resolution, for he made a last desperate effort on her behalf.
"Look here," he said, "I'm not a sneak, but, if you don't own up and let Miss Devereux go, I'll fetch in the police."