Page:The woman, the man, and the monster (IA womanmanmonster00dawe).pdf/358

 “Have we not come together again? What is there left for me to do? Out of your gener- osity has come my salvation.”

“Salvation, yes. A good word. Weall need it badly. And generosity!’ He chuckled hor- ribly. “Ah, an admirable superstition. But I am still a little bewildered.” He pushed her away from him and stared at her with hungry eyes. “If one could be sure, be sure. But how is one to be sure of anything?”

Uncertainty wavered in his glance. He pushed the fingers of his right hand into his mouth and chewed savagely at the nails. The action was replete with horror, but she bore it without sign of protest. For there was more terror in this insane wavering, this futile mouthing of ideas, than in all his brutal fury of passion.

“How shall I convince you?” she asked.

It all meant time, and every moment was. growing more precious. Outside the traffic was ceasing. Even the ubiquitous errand boy with his blatant whistle had quitted the streets. It would be dark now, and all the lamps alight. And still Perseus lingered.

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