"Dare!" he laughed, not pleasantly. "What is there to dare? I'd think as little of putting the police on to you as I would of putting a dog on to a cat. They'd soon show you your place, you thief!"
There was an interval of silence, during which she looked at him over the intervening bracken. If looks could kill he would have dropped dead where he stood.
"Well, are you going to take yourself off, or am I to tell them to take you?"
"Who's them?--tell away! I think that when I tell them you're my wife, and that the police have been looking for you for quite a while, they--whoever they may be!--won't be so keen to interfere with me as you perhaps fancy. There's another thing: you seem to be forgetting that you're my wife. When I do go you'll go with me."
"Will I? We'll see."
"We will see; or, if you prefer it, it shall be the other way about, I'll go with you."
"Will you?"
"It'll have to be one or the other, you may take it from me. Well, are you going to call those friends of yours? Are you coming with me, or am I to go with you? Which is it to be? I'm in no hurry; take your time. I'll have a pipe while you're thinking it over."
He filled a pipe which he took from his pocket, while she glared at him.
"I'm as strong as you; I believe I'm stronger; I believe I could kill you if I chose."