lendid head, the head of
a young Greek, on his flushed face, his mouth, and those obstinate
little waves of his hair. How good he was to look upon--for her, that
is! No, no, she could not let him go.

And she tempted him. With all her woman's beauty she tempted him. If
beauty were aught, it must win her now what she held dear. Afterward,
when she should tell him why, he would forgive her the unmaidenly
strategy. She had noted with a passionate joy that the lines of his face
were tightly drawn, were even haggard, that his breath came short; in a
word, that he suffered. It told her that his gruff manner was not
indifference, but the rugged front of self-control. What a will the man
had! Knowing that strength, she must have been an odd young woman indeed
not to try to break it.

"I suppose," she said, lowering her head and shaking it in demure
resignation, "no, I suppose a captive has not the littlest thing to say
of her disposal? But if the poor child has curiosity, monsieur? If, for
the instant, she wonders why a monsieur fights for her, and then why he
hazards his life to be rid of her?" With which she raised her eyes
inquiringly. It was disconcerting.

"We'll not talk of that any more," he grumbled. "Are you going to let me
pass?"

Frail creature between him and the door, how easy to remove her! But he
feared the warmth of her hand, should he but touch it, or the faint odor
from her hair, should a stray lock no more than brush his cheek.

"Even a captive will wonder why she is so little prized," observed the
perverse maid.

She considered with glee that the window was too small, and with yet
keener delight that his wits for strategy had left him. He did not once
think of exit by the inner door.

"Why do you keep me?" he demanded.

His tone was harsh command, and for the moment it frightened her. She
all but gave way, when she perceived that the menacing growl was really
a plea. The poor fellow was at bay. She very nearly laughed. Then, too,
he would not meet her eye again.

"Oh, am _I_ keeping you?" she exclaimed in innocent dismay.

It provoked him to what she wanted. He came toward her angrily, while
she stepped back against the door and spread her arms across it. Her
pose was a dare; and the trouble was, he had to look. He had to see the
girlish, the wonderful line of head and shoulder, the color flooding
cheek and neck, and most dangerous of all, the challenging gray eyes.
His teeth snapped to, and his