King stopped like a man paralysed. Had he gone mad? Then his pulses leaped and hammered. Gloria had cried "No!" A tremor shook him; he could no longer see her, but he stood where he was, his senses keyed to hear a falling pin within.
"He is a beast and I hate him!" cried Gloria wildly. "He tried to trick me and trap me. He tried to make me marry him But I won't! I won't! I'd rather die."
Her voice died chokingly away, and for five seconds it was deathly still. Still King did not move. He heard Gratton's exclamation, Gratton's hurried step. The man was excited, was expostulating. Other voices; the other men had drawn aside, amazed, leaving Gratton a clear field with his unwilling bride.
"Have you gone mad, Gloria?" King could hear the words now. "Think what you are saying——"
"I have thought. I hate you. Go away. Let me go."
Gratton's pale eyes must be ablaze with wrath now; his tone told that.
"There's no way out for you. You've got to marry me. I——"
"Take your hand off——"
Her voice broke into a scream.
"You're hurting me——"