Yes, I turned him out of his own house, but I might have done worse.

I meant to do much worse." "Yes ?" murmured Nan.

"Why--why didn't you ?" "Because," he answered grimly, "I found that I had only fools to deal with." He paused a moment.
"Well, now for your punishment," he said.

"As you remarked just now, I have you absolutely at my mercy.

How much mercy do you expect--or deserve?
Answer me--as my wife." But she could not answer him.