He leaned towards her, trying to fondle her, but she avoided him and, falling back, stood looking at him. Her face was pale. Outwardly she was composed, but her heart was beating fast. There must be some explanation, after all. It might as well be now as later. Looking him straight in the face with an expression of contempt and disdain in her eyes that made him wince, she said coldly:

"So you've had some sent to your room--again?"

He nodded in half defiant, half ashamed fashion and Virginia, her tone changing, pleaded with him earnestly:

"Don't touch it now, Robert. Please! Please!"

"Why not?" he demanded defiantly.

"You've had enough already."

"Oh, nonsense!" he exclaimed, "I'm all right. I can take twice as much as I've had and not even feel it." Going towards the door he added: "I'll tell Oku to bring it in here--"

She ran quickly to intercept him. That was just what she dreaded. If he touched another drop he would be beyond control. It must be prevented at any cost.

"No, Robert! No!" she pleaded.

Stafford stopped and stared at her in amazement.

"What's the matter?" he demanded.

"Don't take any more," she said, laying a hand coaxingly on his arm.

"Please, dear! It isn't good for you."

"Good for me!" he laughed. "Don't you worry about that. I know what's good for me!" Determinedly he added: "I want that wine and I'm going to have it."

"Then say good-night," she replied with what self-possession she could command, "and take it in your own room."

He looked at her stupidly.

"Drink alone?" he hiccoughed. "And you right here? Well, I guess not--"

He was standing at the door and as he spoke his hand happened to touch the key. Suddenly an idea occurred to him. She might try to get away.

If he had the key, he would command the situation. Un.o.bserved by his wife, he noiselessly withdrew the key from the lock and slipped it in his pocket. Carelessly he went on:

"Where'd be the fun of that? No, we'll have it in here and we'll have a little party--just you and me! A little party! Eh?"

He went towards her, arms outstretched, his eyes ardent. As he advanced she retreated to the farther side of the room.

"Please don't!" she exclaimed, opening her eyes wide in terror.

He halted.

"Why not?" he demanded.

Hesitatingly and in a low tone she answered:

"I remember--the last time."

"When was that?"

"About a week ago!"

"Well," he demanded in a surly tone, "what about it?"

"Don't you remember?"

"No," he answered sullenly.

She turned away in mute despair. Utterly discouraged, completely in his power, she was at a loss what to do or say. There was little use in appealing to the better nature of a man, in his present condition.

She thought of flight, but it was impossible. He barred the way.

Meanwhile he watched her, as a beast of prey watches its hapless victim. His ardent eyes feasted on her white neck, gloated on the lines of her body, revealed by the thin gown. He was too intent on his l.u.s.tful purpose to be really conscious of the pain he was inflicting.

He mistook her resistance for coquettishness. Approaching her, he bent over and whispered persuasively in her ear:

"What's the good of thinking about that, anyway? There's no time like the present, so I'll have Oku bring it in and I'll drink to your pretty eyes. My, but you look sweet to-night! I'll ring for Oku."

He started towards the door and had almost reached it when he heard a movement and rustle of skirts behind him. Turning quickly, he saw Virginia standing at the entrance to her own bedroom, as if hesitating as to whether to go into it or not. Her first impulse had been to take refuge in there and bolt herself in. But it seemed so cowardly, so undignified. So she stopped on the threshold and just looked at him in silence, and for a few moments neither spoke. At last he said:

"You won't run away?"

Slowly, deliberately, he advanced towards her. Virginia, cowed, intimidated, stood still as if glued to the spot. Impatiently he exclaimed:

"It wouldn't be a pretty thing for you to run away from your husband!

So you won't do it, will you?"

She made no answer, and he repeated more loudly:

"Will you?"

She looked up at him bravely. Her face was white, but determined.

Almost defiantly, she replied:

"No. I won't run away."

"That's the way to talk," he cried and going to the door leading to the outside hall, he opened it and called out:

"Oku, open the wine and bring it in here--two gla.s.ses."

Returning, he sat down, waiting for the butler to bring the champagne.

His face was more flushed than ever. Instead of having a sobering effect, his wife's resistance seemed only to inflame him more. But just now his thoughts were not so much on her as on her brother-in-law.

"Oku's--a good boy," he hiccoughed. "A very--good boy. But he isn't half as funny as Jimmie. It's worth twice Jimmie's salary just to have him around to make me laugh. How he does make me laugh! He doesn't know that I'm laughing at him, but I know it. That's what makes it so funny--"

He was interrupted by the appearance of Oku with wine and gla.s.ses, which the butler placed on the table.

"Shall I serve?" asked the servant.

"Yes, fill 'em up," replied his master.