Bitter as poverty the cruel lash cut round the horse's flanks; and as the hansom shot out at break-neck speed toward Fifth Avenue, the girl cowered back in her corner, shivering, staring wide-eyed at the man who had so coolly placed himself at her side. This, then, was that nameless danger that had stalked her on the staircase, this the personality whose animosity toward her had grown so virulent that, even when consciously ignorant of its proximity, she had been repelled and frightened by its subtle emanations! And now--and now she was in his power! Dazed with fear she started up, acting blindly on the primitive instinct to fly; and in another moment, doubtless, would have thrown herself boldly from the cab to the sidewalk, had her companion not seized her by the forearm and by simple force compelled her to resume her seat. "Be still, you little fool!" he told her sharply. "Do you think that I'm going to let you go a third time? Not till I'm through with you.... And if you scream, by the powers, I'll throttle you!" XIV RETRIBUTION She sank back, speechless. Anisty glanced her up and down without visible emotion, then laughed unpleasantly,--the hard and unyielding laugh of brute man brutishly impassioned. "This silly ass, Maitland," he observed, "isn't really as superfluous as he seems. _I_ find him quite a convenience, and I suppose that ought to be totted up to his credit, since it's because he's got the good taste to resemble me.... Consider his thoughtfulness in providing me this cab! What'd I've done without it? To tell the truth I was quite at a loss to frame it up, how to win your coy consent to this giddy elopement, back there in the hall. But dear kind Mis-ter Maitland, bless his innocent heart! fixes it all up for me.... And so," concluded the criminal with ironic relish,--"and so I've got _you_, my lady." He looked at her in sidelong fashion, speculative, calculating, relentless. And she bowed her head, assenting, "Yes--" "You're dead right, little woman. Got you. Um-mmm." She made no reply; she could have made none aside from raising an outcry, although now she was regaining something of her shattered poise, and with it the ability to accept the situation quietly, for a little time (she could not guess how long she could endure the strain), pending an opportunity to turn the tables on this, her persecutor. "What is it," she said presently, with some effort--"what is it you wish with me?" "I have my purpose," with a grim smile. "You will not tell me?" "You've guessed it, my lady; I will not--just yet. Wait a bit." She spurred her flagging spirit until it flashed defiance. "Mr. Anisty!" "Yes?" he responded with a curling lip, cold eyes to hers. "I demand--" "No you don't!" he cut her short with a snarl. "You're not in a position to demand anything. Maybe it would be as well for you to remember who you're dealing with." "And----?"--heart sinking again.