“Folly!” he cried, now thoroughly aroused. “Give me that letter.”
“Nay, Richard,” she answered, and waved him back.
But he advanced nevertheless.
“Give it me,” he bade her, waxing fierce. “Gad! It was folly to have told you of it. I had not done so but that I never thought you such a fool as to oppose yourself to the thing we intend.”
“Listen, Richard...” she besought him.
But he was grown insensible to pleadings.
“Give me that letter,” he insisted, and caught her wrist. Her other hand, however—the one that held the sheet—was already behind her back.
The door was suddenly thrust open, and Diana appeared. “Ruth,” she announced, “Mr. Wilding is here.”
At the mention of that name, Richard let her free. “Wilding!” he ejaculated, his fierceness all blown out of him. He had imagined that already Mr. Wilding would be in full flight. Was the fellow mad?
“He is following me,” said Diana, and, indeed, a step could be heard in the passage.