"
There was a rakish, devil-may-care note in his voice that filled her with
a vague apprehension. Summoning up her courage, she faced him, striving
to keep her voice steady.
"And why--why have you come to me--now?"
"I found your note--the note you had left on my desk, so I thought I
would like to say good-bye," he answered carelessly.
"You could have waited till to-morrow morning," she returned coldly.
"You--you"--she stammered a little, and a faint flush tinged her
pallor--"you should not have come . . . here."
A sudden light gleamed in his eyes, mocking and triumphant.
"It is my wife's room. A husband"--slowly--"has certain rights."
"Ah-h!" She caught her breath, and her hand flew her throat.
"And since," he continued cruelly, never taking his eye from her face,
"since those rights are to be rescinded to-morrow for ever--why, then,
to-night--"
"No! . . . No!" She shrank from him, her hands stretched out as though
to ward him off.
"You've said 'no' to me for the last six months," he said grimly.
"But--that's ended now."
Her eyes searched his face wildly, reading only a set determination in
it. Slowly, desperately, she backed away from him; then, suddenly, she
made a little rush, and, reaching the door, pulled at the handle. But it
remained fast shut.
"_It's locked_!" she cried, frantically tugging at it. She flashed round
upon him.
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