After he had gone, Leander thrust his hands deep into his pockets, and began to whistle forlornly. "A little while ago it was burglars--now it's police!" he reflected aloud. "I'm going it, I am! And then there's Matilda and that there Venus--one predickyment on top of another!" (But here a sudden hope lightened his burden.) "Suppose she's took herself off for good?" He was prevented from indulging this any further by a long, low laugh, which came from the closed cupboard. "No such luck--she's back again!" he groaned. "Oh, _come_ out if you want to. Don't stay larfin' at me in there!" The goddess stepped out, with a smile of subdued mirth upon her lips. "Leander," she said, "did it surprise you just now that I had vanished?" "Oh," he said wearily, "I don't know--yes, I suppose so. You found some way of getting through at the back, I dare say?" "Do you think that even now I cannot break through the petty restraints of matter?" "Well, however it was managed, it was cleverly done. I must say that. I didn't hardly expect it of you. But you must do the same to-morrow night, mind you!" "Must I, indeed?" she said. "Yes, unless you want to ruin me altogether, you must. They're going to search the premises _for you_!" "I have heard all," she said. "But give yourself no anxiety: by that time you and I will be beyond human reach." "Not me," he corrected. "If you think I'm going to let myself be wafted over to Cyprus (which is British soil now, let me tell you), you're under a entire delusion. I've never been wafted anywhere yet, and I don't mean to try it!" All her pent-up wrath broke forth and descended upon him with crushing force. "Meanest and most contemptible of mortal men, you shall recognize me as the goddess I am! I have borne with you too long; it shall end this night. Shallow fool that you have been, to match your puny intellect against a goddess famed for her wiles as for her beauty! You have thought me simple and guileless; you have never feared to treat me with disrespect; you have even dared to suppose that you could keep me--an immortal--pent within these wretched walls! I humoured you; I let you fool yourself with the notion that your will was free--your soul your own. Now that is over! Consider the perils which encircle you. Everything has been aiding to drive you into these arms. My hour of triumph is at hand--yield, then! Cast yourself at my feet, and grovel for pardon--for mercy--or assuredly I will spare you not!" Leander went down on all fours on the hearthrug. "Mercy!" he cried, feebly. "I've meant no offence. Only tell me what you want of me." [Illustration: LEANDER WENT DOWN ON ALL FOURS ON THE HEARTH-RUG.] "Why should I tell you again? I demand the words from you which place you within my power: speak them at once!" ("Ah," thought Leander, "I am not in her power as it is, then.") "If I was to tell you once more that I couldn't undertake to say any such words?" he asked aloud.