It was terrific, to hold in cheek a nature such as his.

"I went into this scheme for--for money. I have it. We have raised
nearly forty thousand dollars. Twenty thousand you have given me as
my share."

She paused. He was paying no attention to her words. His whole self
was centered on her face.

"With me," she continued, half wearily withdrawing her hand as she
assumed the part she had decided on for herself, "with me, Ramon,
love is dead--dead. I have seen too much of the world. Nothing has
any fascination for me now except excitement, money--"

He gently leaned over and recovered the hand that she had withdrawn.
Quickly he raised it to his lips as he had done that first night.

"You are mine," he whispered, "not his."

She did not withdraw the hand this time.

"No--not his--nobody's."

For a moment the adventurers understood each other.

"Not his," he muttered fiercely as he threw his arms about her
wildly, passionately.

"Nobody's," she panted as she gave one answering caress, then
struggled from him.