Why, he pulled a gun on me last night merely because I chanced to mention your name in his presence." The telltale color swept back into her cheeks in swift wave.

For an instant her eyes wavered, then came back to the man's sneering face.
"Did--did you dare tell him ?" He laughed lightly, softly patting his hand on the railing, his own eyes partially veiled by lowered lids.
"Torn off the mask of unimpeachable virtue, have I ?" he chuckled, well pleased.

"Rather prefer not to have our late affair blowed to this particular young man, hey?
Well, I suspected as much; and really, Lizzie, you ought to know I am not that sort of a cur.

I 've held my tongue all right so far, and consequently I expect you to do me a good deed in return.

That's a fair enough proposition, is n't it ?" She did not immediately answer, gazing upon him as she might at some foul snake which had fascinated her, her breath coming in half-stifled sobs, her hand clutching the heavy curtain for support.
"Oh, good God!" she faltered at last, speaking as though half dazed.
"You must possess the spirit of a demon.