"Seal it," he said, and she sealed it.
"Now give it to me," said Magnus, and he took the letter off the table and put it in his breast pocket.
"What are you going to do with it?" asked Thora.
"Deliver it myself," said Magnus.
"No, no!" cried Thora. "At least let me keep it for half an hour--a quarter of an hour."
"I cannot trust you, Thora," said Magnus, and he made for the door.
"Give it me back! Give it me! Give it me!"
She threw her arms about him to detain him, and for a moment he stood trembling in the temptation of her embrace. Then he put her gently aside and fled out of the house.
While he was hurrying through the streets the warmth of Thora's soft flesh was still tingling on his neck and cheek, and the devilish voice was saying in his ear, "What a fool you were! In another moment her sweet body would have been in your strong arms and she would have been yours for ever."
He tried not to hear it, but the voice went on: "She may still be yours if you're half a man! Keep back Thora's letter and return his own to Oscar! Why not? What better does he deserve of you?"