man. Doesn't that appeal to
you? And I'll give you plenty of rope even while I'm alive. I shan't
interfere with your pleasures. Come, I shouldn't make such a bad
husband. I'm quite respectable nowadays. I should want a little
attention of course, but you wouldn't find me exacting. You'll get quite
fond of me in time."

Olga barely repressed a shudder. "Never!" she said. "No, never!"

"Never?" said Hunt-Goring. He stooped a little lower over her, his arm
about her shoulders despite her sick disgust. "Why never? You've sent
that doctor chap about his business, haven't you?"

"He has gone, yes." She answered him briefly to hide the intolerable
pain at her heart the words called up.

"But you're still hankering after him; is that it?" sneered Hunt-Goring.
"Well, then, listen to me! I hold that man's future in my hands. I can
ruin him utterly or--I can forbear. I'm not over-fond of him, as you
know. I should rather like to see him ruined, though it would give me
some little trouble to do it. What say you? I am the gladiator in the
arena. I shall slay or spare--at your word alone."

Again his eyes overwhelmed her, so that she could not meet them. A great
shiver went through her. She began to pant a little. "I--don't
understand," she said. "You know nothing--but gossip. You--you can prove
nothing."

"Can I not?" said Hunt-Goring. "You haven't a very high opinion of my
intelligence, have you? Colonel Campion--I believe you know him--is
scarcely the man to sit still when such gossip as that reaches his ears.
As for the proofs, I know how to find them. The worthy Mrs. Briggs was
on the spot, you may remember. Her evidence would be valuable. And there
are other well-known means which I needn't go into now. But I assure you
the circumstances themselves, properly handled, are sufficiently
suspicious. You would not care to see your friend Max on his trial for
murder, I presume?"

She shivered again, shivered from head to foot. She did not utter a
word.

"No, I thought not," said Hunt-Goring, after a moment. "It would be
especially painful for you, as your evidence also would be required. You
see the position quite clearly, don't you? Come, hadn't you better give
in now--and save further trouble?"

She was silent still. Only her breath came fast--as the breath of one
who nears exhaustion.

Hunt-Goring waited a little, watching her white face. "Come!" he said,
"I don't want to play the villain any longer. Can't you give me