"God!" murmured the girl, burying her face in her hands,
"he has gone mad; he has gone mad."

"I truly believe that he is mad," said von Horn, "nor could
you doubt it for a moment were I to tell you the worst."

"The worst!" exclaimed the girl. "What could be worse
than that which you already have divulged? Oh, how could
you have permitted it?"

"There is much worse than I have told you, Virginia.
So much worse that I can scarce force my lips to frame
the words, but you must be told. I would be more
criminally liable than your father were I to keep
it from you, for my brain, at least, is not crazed.
Virginia, you have in your mind a picture of the
hideous thing that carried you off into the jungle?"

"Yes," and as the girl replied a convulsive shudder
racked her frame.

Von Horn grasped her arm gently as he went on,
as though to support and protect her during the shock
that he was about to administer.

"Virginia," he said in a very low voice, "it is your
father's intention to wed you to one of his creatures."

The girl broke from him with an angry cry.