His face took on a sudden and crafty change.

The rage and anger ebbed out of him.

He placed the lamp on the dressing-table of polished rosewood.

Then his lean, white fingers meditatively adjusted his tie, and even more meditatively stroked at the narrow black imperial, before he spoke again.
"What greater crown may one hope for, in any activity of life, than a beautiful woman ?" he asked quietly.
There was a moment of unbroken silence.
For the first time a touch of fear came to her shadowy eyes, and they were veiled by a momentary look of furtiveness.
"What do you mean ?" "I mean, madam, simply that you will now remain with me!" "That is absurd!" She noticed, for the first time, that he had put away his revolver.
"It is not absurd; it is essential.

Permit me.