“You are driving me to the most desperate measures,” he cried.
“It seems to me that your measures have all along been as desperate as they well can be.”
“I swear by all that's holy,” thundered Leon, “that I'll tame you yet. I'll bring you into subjection.”
“Ah! then in that case,” said Edith, “my comfort will be that the subjection can not last long.”
“Will it not?” asked Leon.
“No, it will not, as you very well know,” said Edith, in cold, measured tones, looking steadfastly at him with what seemed like a certain solemn warning. She rose as she said this, still looking at Leon, while he also rose in a state of vehement excitement.
“What do you meant” he cried. “You look as blood-thirsty as an assassin.”
“I may yet become one,” said Edith, gloomily, “if this lasts much longer. You have eyes, but you will not see. You treat me like some silly, timid child, while I have all the time the spirit of a man. This can only end in one way. Some one must die!”
Leon looked at her in astonishment. Her voice and her look showed that she was in earnest, but the fragile beauty of her slender form seemed to belie the dark meaning of her words.
“I came with a fair offer,” said he, in a voice hoarse with passion.