Page:The woman, the man, and the monster (IA womanmanmonster00dawe).pdf/318

 The Woman, the Man, and the Monster

matter with a man who sees the humour of things.”

He looked about the richly furnished room with admiration; he trod the thick pile carpet with a feeling of the utmost satisfaction. The place was full of ghosts, but they did not seem to trouble him; on the contrary, they appeared to be pleasant visitors. Beautiful ghosts many of them—to judge from their portraits inheavy silver frames. One he caught up from its place on a side table and set it in a corner of the huge chesterfield. Then he sat down be- side it, and a strange smile broke slowly across his face.

“You had wonderful eyes,” he whispered; “almost as wonderful as hers. The devil! But Tl bend her yet! Odd that they should dream of being able to flout a man who has made up his mind. Which of them ever succeeded? I believe they are the only animals who enjoy being hunted. Why should she be different from the others?”

He rose, took up the photograph, and put it back in its old place. But that thought of hunting seemed to awaken other and more

304