Page:Richard Marsh--The goddess a demon.djvu/237

Rh advice, my lad, you'll own you're beaten. Because you are."

He was. I ran the rope about him, pulling him off his feet with a jerk. As he lay on the floor, I trussed him hand and foot. I have had some experience in the handling of ropes, and can tie a knot or two. I was prepared to guarantee that, unaided, he would never move again.

"What are you going to do to me?" he asked.

"Nothing, my good man. It's surely more comfortable in here than out in the street in such weather as this? The unfortunate part of the business is that I am so anxious that you should not make a noise that I'm afraid I shall have to take measures to keep you still."

"You are not going to gag me?"

"I fear I must. But, to prove that I regret having to subject you to inconvenience, I am going to slip two five-pound notes into the breast pocket of your coat. When you're untied you will be able to drink my health with them."

"Drink your health! My God, I will!"

"Just so. But not with so much strenuosity. Such language should not be used."

I had bought, at the same shop as the clothes-line, some cotton wadding. I thrust as large a piece of this into his mouth as it could conveniently hold. Then, lifting him, I laid him