One day, however, he entered Fatkoura's room with a strange expression on his face.
He dismissed Tika with a gesture that suffered no reply; then he stepped towards Fatkoura, and gazed at her fixedly.
"You are firmly resolved to resist me still?" said he, after a pause.
"Now and always; and to hate as much as I despise you."
"That is your final answer? Think again."
"I do not need to think. I hated you from the first moment I saw you; I shall hate you to my death."
"Very well!" cried the Prince, in a terrible voice; "I can force you to become my wife."
"I defy you to do so," said Fatkoura, who never quailed before the Prince's gaze.
"I will conquer you, I swear, as I conquered your lover."
Fatkoura smiled scornfully.