“What more can I do?” moaned Euphra, succeeding at length in raising herself to a sitting posture, and leaning thus against a tree. “I shall be found out some day. I have been already seen wandering through the house at midnight, with the heart of a thief. I hate you, Count Halkar!” A low laugh was the count’s only reply. “And now Lady Euphrasia herself dogs my steps, to keep me from the ring.” She gave a low cry of agony at the remembrance. “Miss Cameron—Euphra—are you going to give way to such folly?” “Folly! Is it not worse folly to torture a poor girl as you do me—all for a worthless ring? What can you want with the ring? I do not know that he has it even.” “You lie. You know he has. You need not think to take me in.” “You base man! You dare not give the lie to any but a woman.” “Why?” “Because you are a coward. You are afraid of Lady Euphrasia yourself. See there!” Von Funkelstein glanced round him uneasily. It was only the moonlight on the bark of a silver birch. Conscious of having betrayed weakness, he grew spiteful. “If you do not behave to me better, I will compel you. Rise up!” After a moment’s hesitation, she rose. “Put your arms round me.” She seemed to grow to the earth, and to drag herself from it, one foot after another. But she came close up to the Bohemian, and put one arm half round him, looking to the earth all the time. “Kiss me.” “Count Halkar!” her voice sounded hollow and harsh, as if from a dead throat—“I will do what you please. Only release me.” “Go then; but mind you resist me no more. I do not care for your kisses. You were ready enough once. But that idiot of a tutor has taken my place, I see.” “Would to God I had never seen you!—never yielded to your influence over me! Swear that I shall be free if I find you the ring.” “You find the ring first. Why should I swear? I can compel you. You know you laid yourself out to entrap me first with your arts, and I only turned upon you with mine. And you are in my power. But you shall be free, notwithstanding; and I will torture you till you free yourself. Find the ring.” “Cruel! cruel! You are doing all you can to ruin me.” “On the contrary, I am doing all I can to save myself. If you had loved me as you allowed me to think once, I should never have made you my tool.” “You would all the same.” “Take care. I am irritable to-night.” For a few moments Euphra made no reply. “To what will you drive me?” she said at last. “I will not go too far. I should lose my power over you if I did. I prefer to keep it.”