‘No,’ I said, and I could hear the tremor in my voice. ‘No, I’ll go with Zina. I think she needs—’
‘I am the best judge of what she needs,’ he snapped. ‘Kindly stay here.’
But Zina had turned and caught hold of my hand. ‘Come quickly, Dick,’ she said.
Sansevino caught hold of her hand and with a twist forced her fingers to release their hold on me. ‘Go to the car, Zina,’ he ordered. ‘Farrell comes with me.’
‘No, no,’ she cried. ‘I know what you are going to do. But I will not—’
‘Shut up!’
‘Then let him come with me. You want him to stay with you so that—’
‘Shut up — do you hear?’
‘I will not go without him. I will not let you—’
He caught hold of her and pushed her roughly back into the room. ‘Very well, then. Stay here until our guests have gone. Hacket. Will you please go now. And you, Maxwell. I am afraid the Contessa is not herself.’