He stood looking at her with that dreadful smile about his lips and the
red fire leaping, leaping in his eyes. "Can't you guess what he wants?"
he said. "He wants--you."

"Me?" She gazed back at him astounded. "But why--why? Does he want to
get money out of me? Where has he gone?"

Monck laughed, a low, terrible laugh. "Never mind where he has gone!
I've frightened him off, and I'll shoot him--I'll shoot him--if he comes
back! You're mine now--not his. You were right to come to me, quite
right. I was just coming to you. But this is better. No one can come
between us now. I know how to protect my wife."

He reached out his hands to her as he ended. His eyes shocked her
inexpressibly. They held a glare that was inhuman, almost devilish.

She drew back from him in open horror. "Captain Monck! I am not your
wife! What can you be thinking of? You--you are not yourself."

She turned with the words, seeking the door that led into the passage.
He made no attempt to check her. Instinct told her, even before she laid
her hand upon it, that it was locked.

She turned back, facing him with all her courage. "Captain Monck, I
command you to let me go!"

Clear and imperious her voice fell, but it had no more visible effect
upon him than the drip of the rain outside. He came towards her swiftly,
with the step of a conqueror, ignoring her words as though they had