Page 312 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

pity me!)—and I know what she thinks of women like me.
She is good—and virtuous—and cold. She would shudder at
you if she knew what I know. Shudder! She would hate you!
And I will tell her! Ay, I will! You will be respectable, will
you? A model husband! Wait till I tell her my story—till I
send some of these poor women to tell theirs. You kill my
love; I’ll blight and ruin yours!’
Frere caught her by both wrists, and with all his strength
forced her to her knees. ‘Don’t speak her name,’ he said in a
hoarse voice, ‘or I’ll do you a mischief. I know all you mean
to do. I’m not such a fool as not to see that. Be quiet! Men
have murdered women like you, and now I know how they
came to do it.’
For a few minutes a silence fell upon the pair, and at last
Frere, releasing her hands, fell back from her.
‘I’ll do what you want, on one condition.’
‘What?’
‘That you leave this place.’
‘Where for?’
‘Anywhere—the farther the better. I’ll pay your passage
to Sydney, and you go or stay there as you please.’
She had grown calmer, hearing him thus relenting. ‘But
this house, Maurice?’
‘You are not in debt?’
‘No.’
‘Well, leave it. It’s your own affair, not mine. If I help you,
you must go.’
‘May I see him?’
‘No.’

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