Suddenly he leaped forward—and his arms closed around her, pinioning her hands to her sides.
"But I will kiss you another time before I go—and maybe I shall——"
She fought him silently—unwilling even for the servants to see her in this man's embrace. She evaded his every attempt at her lips—she struggled—she buried her hair in his face—she felt his breath on her neck—she was carried slowly across the room—her hair burst free and fell in waves around her, enveloping her face and shielding it somewhat from his attempts.
"You siren!" he panted. "You siren!"
"You devil!" she gasped. "You worse than devil!—Loose me! I tell you—loose me!"
"I'll loose you," he breathed,—"I'll loose you—when I've had—my——"
He raised her in his arms and bore her toward a couch—crushing her to him in a mad ecstasy that left her well-nigh senseless.
She felt herself strike the couch—felt herself flung upon it—tried to cry out and could not! With a final desperate effort that exhausted her last atom of strength, she strove to thrust him from her.
But he only laughed—and shifted his hold.
"Not yet, sweetheart!" he panted.—"Not yet——"