the woman with the red, expressionless face put her head into kitty’s prison and said—“i’ve to tell ye that he’ll be coming to see you in five minutes from now.” without waiting for a response she closed the door and shot the bolt.

kitty was seated on the couch with a book in her hand. she had actually managed to read a little, though it is highly probable that she could not have told very clearly what the pages had been about. yet the fact that she had been able to fix her attention on a mere story for the space of a couple of hours proved that she had regained a fair command over her wits, and recovered at least something of her courage. at all events, of the panic of twenty-four hours ago little trace remained. she was pale, but it was the pallor of anxiety, not terror; and now, at the woman’s announcement, the apprehension in her fine eyes was counterbalanced by a determined firming of her pretty, sensitive mouth.

p. 241“he can do nothing, after all,” she assured herself, “and it won’t be very long till they find out where i am. i must show him i’m not afraid of him.”

it was past midnight, but she felt no weariness, for she had slept through the afternoon. she was, in fact, feeling as well as ever she had felt. just after the first horrid realization of her situation she had made up her mind to starve rather than accept of his hospitality; but soon she had perceived the absurdity of such a course.

“for goodness’ sake, be as sensible as you can,” she commanded herself. “you’ve got to keep fit and healthy, for you don’t know what you may have to do with your strength. and the food is of the best, perfectly cooked and beautifully served. so don’t try to pose as a persecuted heroine on the stage. you’ve been fearfully lucky, and this is only going to be a nasty little episode, which you’ll laugh at before long!”

all the same, she had a breakdown or two in spite of her brave words, and the time had passed very, very slowly. now as she heard his step at the door, she moved herself to play a part.

symington entered, closing the door behind him. he was in evening dress and cut a handsome figure in his way. his countenance was somewhat p. 242flushed; his eyes glistened rather unpleasantly. for various reasons he had delayed visiting his prisoner until now.

“i am sorry i could not come to see you sooner, kitty,” he said, halting by the flower-decorated table, and resting his hand on the back of a chair. “this room,” he went on, “is not what i would have chosen for your reception, but it was the best i could do in the time. i have a fine house upstairs being prepared for—us. still, i hope you have been fairly comfortable. you have only to ask for anything you want.” he paused, watching her.

her eyes had never left the book; she appeared oblivious of his presence.

“kitty,” he said, “will you kindly tell me if there is anything i can do.”

“you can go away,” she answered quietly, without moving.

he had prepared himself for an unkind reception. “there is something you must hear before i go,” he said. “and, kitty, don’t trouble to try to make me lose my temper, because i’m not going to oblige you in that way. in any other way, you have only to ask.”

“then if you must talk, please leave my name out.”

p. 243after a slight pause he said: “would you mind putting down your book for a few minutes?”

she lowered it, her finger at the place, and faced him.

“well?”

“have you no question to ask me?”

“none.”

“you are great!” he exclaimed. “but i have a question to ask.”

she lifted her hand to her mouth and gave a little yawn. his colour deepened, but he spoke calmly enough.

“how soon will you marry me, kitty?”

there was cruelty in her voice. “mr. symington, how far do you intend to go with this idiotic business?” she threw a significant glance around the room. “it must have cost you a good deal of money so far—and all for nothing!”

he winced, but kept himself in hand.

“how soon will you marry me?”

“you know i will never marry you.” she made to resume her book.

“i know that you shall!” he moved quickly and stood over her. “don’t you see that you are in my power?”

“i’m under lock and key, if that’s what you mean.”

p. 244“don’t force me to tell you what i mean. i’d far rather have your promise without that. . . . kitty, listen! you can’t deny that you know i’m desperately fond of you.” his words came swiftly now. “and i can’t deny that i’m aware you don’t even like me. but just as you could make what you please of me, i believe in time, i could—”

“stop!”

“you must hear me! i’m a rich man, though hardly anybody knows it. i can offer you a splendid life—give you things you’ve never dreamed of, take you abroad, make you a home wherever you desire. . . . kitty, i confess i’ve done lots to be ashamed of in my time, but i swear i’ll make you a good husband—”

“oh, do stop!” she said, her calm broken. “how can you—how dare you—talk so after all you have done—the abominable things you have done to me? . . . rich? what should i care if you had all the money in the world? why, i shouldn’t care enough to ask how you had got it—”

his hand fell on her shoulder. “be careful,” he said in tense tones. “for as surely as i am touching you now you are going to marry me!”

p. 245she shook off his hand. “if you touch me again—” she stopped short.

“well?” it was almost a sneer. next moment he said: “don’t be afraid, kitty. i’m not that sort. you—you’re sacred. . . . but you do not leave this place until we go out of it together to be married. don’t think you can escape, and don’t imagine it will be so very long till you give in. your friends may find their way here some day, but they won’t be in time. afterwards—what will your friends matter? you’ll be my wife, and no one shall dare come between us!”

“you are mad!” she exclaimed, clinging to her courage. “for your own sake give up this crazy notion. otherwise you’ll be dreadfully punished!”

with a short laugh he moved away a few paces, then faced her again.

“you deliberately won’t understand my love for you, kitty, and you don’t understand my power—as yet. for your own sake, and another’s, i beg you once more to give in without forcing me to use—”

“oh, what is the good of all this talk? you can make things uncomfortable for me for a few days, perhaps, but you can never compel me to p. 246do the most hateful thing i can imagine—in other words, marry you. and that is my last word, mr. symington.” she took up her book and opened it, but her fingers trembled on the page.

with difficulty he restrained his passion.

“very well,” he said a little thickly. “i’m sorry, but you force me on the course i would have avoided if possible.” softly he cleared his throat. “now i’ll explain. a little while ago i received a telephone message to the effect that . . . ah!” he exclaimed. an electric bell had sounded in the distance. “let us wait.” he smiled as he took out his cigarette case, but the fingers that presently held the match were not much steadier than hers. “listen, listen!” he muttered.

in spite of herself kitty listened. at first her ears could detect nothing; then they heard the closing of a distant, heavy door. a brief period of silence was followed by the sound, faint to begin with, of slow, heavy footfalls. soon she realized they were descending a stone stair. nearer they came, and at last seemed to reach the level. nearer still—they were coming along the passage outside her door. they rang dully and erratically on the stone flags. kitty thought of two men bearing a weighty burden. p. 247as they passed the door she heard voices, gruff and impatient.

suddenly symington gave an odd, triumphant laugh, saying—

“my second prisoner has arrived!”

involuntarily the girl lifted her eyes.

“for the last time, kitty, will you give me your word that you will marry me as soon as i can get—”

she sprang to her feet. “you miserable fool,” she cried, “i’d rather be dead!”

he grinned. “the more you hurt me, the more i love you! it’s no use fighting me, kitty. i’m going to win,” he declared, “for you’re bound to give in. why? because my second prisoner shall not get so much as a crust until you give me your word! remember, you forced me to it.” he swung round to the door.

“you coward,” she gasped, “who is your second prisoner?”

without answering he went out. it was as though her wall of defence had suddenly crumbled into ruins.