"No matter how much danger I may be in here I cannot desert
my father on this lonely isle with only savage lascars
and the terrible monsters of his own creation
surrounding him. Why, it would be little short
of murder for us to do such a thing. I cannot see how you,
his most trusted lieutenant, can even give an instant's
consideration to the idea.

"And now that you insist that his mind is sorely affected,
it is only an added reason why I must remain with him
to protect him so far as I am able, from himself and his enemies."

Von Horn did not relish the insinuation in the accent
which the girl put upon the last word.

"It is because I love you so, Virginia," he hastened
to urge in extenuation of his suggested disloyalty.
"I cannot see you sacrificed to his horrible mania.
You do not realize the imminence of your peril.
Tomorrow Number Thirteen was to have come to live beneath
the same roof with you. You recall Number One whom the
stranger killed as the thing was bearing you away
through the jungle? Can you imagine sleeping in the
same house with such a soulless thing? Eating your
three meals a day at the same table with it? And
knowing all the time that in a few short weeks at the
most you were destined to be given to the thing as its
mate? Virginia, you must be mad to consider for a
moment remaining within reach of such a terrible peril.