In my terror and despair I watched for the time when they should all become as helpless as the miserable creature who had brought them there; but it was long to wait.

Lucia, those hours when I saw myself and you at the mercy of these wretches were like years of agony.

They saw my fear, however I might try to disguise it, and delighted in the torment I suffered.

They tried again and again to take you from me; they threatened us both with every imaginable horror; till I thought night would have quite closed in before their drinking would end in complete intoxication.

At length, at length, it did.