Page:Richard Marsh--The goddess a demon.djvu/238

226 carefully on the floor in a corner of the room behind a couch. As the couch hid him, and he could neither move nor utter a sound, it was possible that he might remain there for some considerable time without his presence being discovered.

I went out of the room. In the passage was a bag. Picking it up, I passed out of the house. On the pavement, just outside the door, was the lady. She was full of concern about the gentleman I had left behind.

"Have you—have you hurt him?"

"Not in the least. I have simply tied him up, so as to prevent him following us to see where we go."

I did not think it was necessary to say anything about the gagging.

"Have you tied him very tight?"

"Not I."

"Is he strong?"

"I never asked."

"But you could see. How big is he?" I told her. We were moving towards the Fulham Road. She repeated her little trick of drawing a hurried breath. "I wish I were a strong man!"

"You are stronger than any man I ever knew."

"How can you say such a thing? Am I as strong as you?"