answer for her with your head!'

Mr. Ratsch set the candelabra on the billiard-table, made Semyon
Matveitch a low bow, and with a slight swagger and a malignant smile,
moved towards me. A cat, I imagine, approaches a mouse who has no chance
of escape in that way. All my daring left me in an instant. I knew the
man was capable of... beating me. I began to tremble; yes; oh, shame! oh
ignominy! I shivered.

'Now, then, madam,' said Mr. Ratsch, 'kindly come along.'

He took me, without haste, by the arm above the elbow.... He saw that I
should not resist. Of my own accord I pushed forward towards the door;
at that instant I had but one thought in my mind, to escape as quickly
as possible from the presence of Semyon Matveitch.

But the loathsome old man darted up to us from behind, and Ratsch
stopped me and turned me round face to face with his patron.

'Ah!' the latter shouted, shaking his fist; 'ah! So I'm the brother...
of my brother, am I? Ties of blood! eh? But a cousin, a first cousin you
could marry? You could? eh? Take her, you!' he turned to my stepfather.
'And remember, keep a sharp look-out! The slightest communication with
her--and no punishment will be too severe.... Take her!'

Mr. Ratsch conducted me to my room. Crossing the courtyard, he said
nothing, but kept laughing noiselessly to himself. He closed the
shutters and the doors, and then, as he was finally returning, he bowed
low to me as he had to Semyon Matveitch, and went off into a ponderous,
triumphant guffaw!