Page:The woman, the man, and the monster (IA womanmanmonster00dawe).pdf/268

 “I will not go with you,” she said. “Perseus, I am afraid. Do not let him touch me.”

A slow smile broke over Brenton’s dark face.

“One would think that I have been unnecessarily brutal, when I have only sought to impose restraint. Perseus!” He smiled queerly as he rolled the word round his tongue. “I think I understand the application. A harsh measure, I admit, but one not unfitting the offence.”

“The offence, that I would not submit to his degrading me lower than the beasts,” she cried; “that I would not become the loathsome creature he would make of me, submit to his brutalised instincts, pander to his unspeakable depravity.”

“What had you to lose?” He spoke harshly, the blood mounting to his forehead. “Come, enough of this. I grow weary. Too long have I condescended to argue the matter. I haven’t hunted for you for weeks to let you go now that I’ve found you. That I find you here, the mistress of this man, is no surprise. But you are mine, by every law you are mine, and I will not have my name made a byword and a