cured the little one when he had an evil spirit. Yes,
you can trust me."

She gave him money and rode on home. Before she reached the bungalow the
paddle-maker passed her at a trot, going towards the sea.

She waited for three days, and then Victor Durnovo came again. Maurice
was still away. There was an awful sense of impending danger in the
very air in the loneliness of her position. Yet she was not afraid of
Durnovo. She had left that fear behind. She went to the drawing-room to
see him, full of resolution.

"I could not go away," he said, after relinquishing her hand, "without
coming to see you."

Jocelyn said nothing. The scared look which she had last seen in his
face was no longer there; but the eyes were full of lies.

"Jocelyn," the man went on, "I suppose you know that I love you? It must
have been plain to you for a long time."

"No," she answered, with a little catch in her breath. "No, it has not.
And I am sorry to hear it now."

"Why?" he asked, with a dull gleam which could not be dignified by the
name of love.

"Because it can only lead to trouble."

Victor Durnovo was standing with his back to the window, while Jocelyn,
in the full light of the afternoon, stood before him. He looked
her slowly up and down with a glance of approval which alarmed and
disquieted her.

"Will you marry me?" he asked.

"No!"

His black moustache was pushed forward by some motion of the hidden
lips.

"Why?"

"Do you want the real reason?" asked Jocelyn.

Victor Durnovo paused for a moment.

"Yes," he said.

"Because I not only do not care for you, but I despise and distrust
you."

"You are candid," he said, with an unpleasant little laugh.

"Yes."

He moved a little to one side and drew a chair towards him,
half-leaning, half-sitting on the back of it.

"Then," he said, "I will be candid with you. I intend you to marry me; I
have intended it for a long time. I am not going down on my knees to
ask you to do it: that is not my way. But, if you drive me to it, I will
make your brother Maurice go down on his knees and beg you to marry me."

"I don't think you will do that," answered the girl steadily. "Whatever
your power over Maurice may be, it is not strong enough for that; you
overrate it."

"You think so?" he sneered.

"I am sure of it."

Durnovo glanced hastily round the room in order to make sure that they
were not overheard.

"Suppose," he said, in a low, hissing voice, "that I possess