"Yes!"--smiting her hands together. "Can't you see it? There's . . . _nothing_ . . . here for me. Are we companions, you and I? We're absolute strangers! We don't think, or feel, or move in the same world." "No?" Just the brief monosyllable, spoken as coolly as though she had remarked that she didn't like the colour of his tie. She looked up, bewildered, and met his gaze. His eyes frightened her. They were ablaze, remorseless as the eyes of a bird of prey. A sudden terror of him overwhelmed her. "Roger!" she cried. "We can't marry! Let me go--release me from my promise! Oh!"--breaking down all at once--"I can't bear it! I can't marry you! Let me go--oh, please let me go!" There was a pause--a pause during which Nan could feel her heart leaping in her body like some terrified captive thing. Then, Roger made a movement. Instinctively she knew it was towards her and flung out her arms to ward him off. But she might as well have opposed him with two straws. He caught both wrists in one of his big hands and bent her arms downwards, drawing her close to him till she lay unwillingly against his breast, held there in a grasp like iron. "Will I release you?" he said savagely. "No, I will _not_! Neither now, nor at any future time. You're _mine_! Do you understand what that means? It means if you'd one day left to live, it would be _my_ day--one night, _mine_! And I swear to you if any man takes you from me I'll kill him first and you after. _Now_ do you understand?" She tried to speak, but her voice failed her. It was as though he had pronounced sentence on her--a life sentence! She could never get away from him--never, never! A shudder ran through her whole body. He felt it, and it stung him to fresh anger. Her head was pressed into his shoulder as though for shelter. "Look up!" he demanded imperiously. "Don't hide your face. It's mine. And I want to see it!" Reluctantly, compelled by his voice, she lifted a white, tortured face to his. Then, meeting his eyes, savagely alight with the fire of conquest, she turned her head quickly aside. But it was useless. She was powerless in the vice-like grip of his arms, and the next moment he was kissing her, eyes and mouth and pulsing throat, with terrible, burning kisses that seemed to sear their way through her whole body, branding her indelibly his. It was useless to struggle. She hung nervelessly in his straining arms, mute and helpless to withstand him, while his passion swept over her like a tidal wave, submerging her utterly. When at last he set her free she swayed unsteadily, catching at the table for support. Her knees seemed to be giving way under her. She was voiceless, breathless from his violence. The tide had receded, leaving her utterly spent and exhausted. He regarded her in silence for a moment. "I don't think you'll ask me to release you from your engagement again," he said slowly. "No," she whispered tonelessly. "No."