All was black before her eyes; only a glowing match was red near her feet.

Where was he?
"What is it ?" she asked, afraid.
"You can't do it," his voice answered out of the darkness.
There was a pause.

She felt in his power.

She had heard the ring in his voice.

It frightened her.
"What time is it ?" she asked, quiet, definite, hopeless.
"Two minutes to nine," he replied, telling the truth with a struggle.
"And can I get from here to the station in fourteen minutes ?" "No.