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I could see you watch…ng。 Tell me what you thought？〃
She had turned her head now； and her eyes were fixed upon his。 They
were large and soft； capable； he knew； of infinite expression。 Yet
at that moment the light that shone from them was simply one of fear；
half curious； half shrinking。
〃My impression；〃 he said； 〃was that both of you disliked and feared
Mr。 Fentolin； yet for some reason or other that you were his abject
slaves。〃
Her fingers seemed suddenly inspired with diabolical strength and
energy。 Strange chords crashed and broke beneath them。 She played
some unfamiliar music with tense and fierce energy。 Suddenly she
paused and rose to her feet。
〃Come out on to the terrace；〃 she invited。 〃You are not afraid of
cold？〃
He followed her without a word。 She opened the French windows； and
they stepped out on to the long； broad stone promenade。 The night
was dark； and there was little to be seen。 The light was burning
at the entrance to the waterway； a few lights were twinkling from
the village。 The soft moaning of the sea was distinctly audible。
She moved to the edge of the palisading。 He followed her closely。
〃You are right； Mr。 Hamel；〃 she said。 〃I think that I am more
afraid of him than any woman ever was of any man in this world。〃
〃Then why do you live here？〃 he protested。 〃You must have other
relations to whom you could go。 And your brother … why doesn't
he do something … go into one of the professions？ He could surely
leave easily enough？〃
〃I will tell you a secret；〃 she answered calmly。 〃Perhaps it will
help you to understand。 You know my uncle's condition。 You know
that it was the result of an accident？〃
〃I have heard so；〃 he replied gravely。
She clutched at his arm。
〃Come；〃 she said。
Side by side they walked the entire length of the terrace。 When
they reached the corner； they were met with a fierce gust of wind。
She battled along； and he followed her。 They were looking inland
now。 There were no lights visible … nothing but dark； chaotic
emptiness。 From somewhere below him he could hear the wind in the
tree…tops。
〃This way；〃 she directed。 〃Be careful。〃
They walked to the very edge of the palisading。 It was scarcely
more than a couple of feet high。 She pointed downwards。
〃Can you see？ 〃 she whispered。
By degrees his eyes faintly penetrated the darkness。 It was as
though they were looking down a precipice。 The descent was perfectly
sheer for nearly a hundred feet。 At the bottom were the pine trees。
〃Come here again in the morning；〃 she whispered。 〃You will see then。
I brought you here to show you the place。 It was here that the
accident happened。〃
〃What accident？〃
〃Mr。 Fentolln's；〃 she continued。 〃It was here that he went over。
He was picked up with both his legs broken。 They never thought that
he would live。〃
Hamel shivered a little。 As his eyes grew accustomed to the
darkness； he saw more distinctly than ever the sheer fall； the tops
of the bending trees below。
〃What a horrible thing！ 〃he exclaimed。
〃It was more horrible than you know；〃 she continued； dropping her
voice a little； almost whispering in his ear。 〃I do not know why
I tell you this … you； a stranger … but if I do not tell some one；
I think that the memory of it will drive me mad。 It was no accident
at all。 Mr。 Fentolin was thrown over！〃
〃By whom？〃 he asked。
She clung to his arm for a moment。
〃Ah； don't ask me！〃 she begged。 〃No one knows。 My uncle gave out；
as soon as he was conscious； that it was an accident。〃
〃That； at any rate； was fine of him；〃 Hamel dedared。
She shivered。
〃He was proud； at least； of our family name。 Whatever credit he
deserves for it； he must have。 It was owing to that accident that
we became his slaves： nothing but that … his absolute slaves； to
wait upon him； if he would； hand and foot。 You see； he has never
been able to marry。 His life was； of course； ruined。 So the burden
came to us。 We took it up； little thinking what was in store for us。
Five years ago we came here to live。 Gerald wanted to go into the
army； I wanted to travel with my mother。 Gerald has done all the
work secretly； but he has never been allowed to pass his examinations。
I have never left England except to spend two years at the strictest
boarding…school in Paris； to which I was taken and fetched away by
one of his creatures。 We live here； with the shadow of this thing
always with us。 We are his puppets。 If we hesitate to do his
bidding； he reminds us。 So far； we have been his creatures； body
and soul。 Whether it will go on； I cannot say … oh； I cannot say！
It is bad for us； but … there is mother； too。 He makes her life a
perfect hell！〃
A roar of wind came booming once more across the marshes； bending
the trees which grew so thickly beneath them and which ascended
precipitately to the back of the house。 The French windows behind
rattled。 She looked around nervously。
〃I am afraid of him all the time；〃 she murmured。 〃He seems to
overhear everything … he or his creatures。 Listen！〃
They were silent for several moments。 He whispered in her ear so
closely that through the darkness he could； see the fire in her
eyes。
〃You are telling me half；〃 he said。 〃Tell me everything。 Who
threw your uncle over the parapet？
She stood by his side； motionless and trembling。
〃It was the passion of a moment；〃 she said at last； speaking
hoarsely。 〃I cannot tell you。 Listen！ Listen！〃
〃There is no one near；〃 Hamel assured her。 〃It is the wind which
shakes the windows。 I wish that you would tell me everything。 I
would like to be your friend。 Believe me； I have that desire；
really。 There are so many things which I do not understand。 That
it is dull here for you； of course； is natural； but there is
something more than that。 You seem always to fear something。 Your
uncle is a selfish man； naturally； although to look at him he seems
to have the disposition of an angel。 But beyond that； is there
anything of which you are afraid？ You seem all the time to live
in fear。〃
She suddenly clutched his hand。 There was nothing of affection in
her touch； and yet he felt a thrill of delight。
〃There are strange things which happen here；〃 she whispered； 〃things
which neither Gerald nor I understand。 Yet they terrify us。 I
think that very soon the end will come。 Neither of us can stand
it very much longer。 We have no friends。 Somehow or other； he
seems to manage to keep us always isolated。〃
〃I shall not go away from here；〃 Hamel said firmly； 〃at present。
Mind； I am not at all sure that； living this solitary life as you
do； you have not become a little over…nervous； that you have not
exaggerated the fear of some things。 To me your uncle seems
merely quixotic and egregiously selfish。 However that may be； I
am going to remain。〃 She clutched once； more at his arm； her
finger was upraised。 They listened together。 From somewhere
behind them came the clear； low wailing of a Violin。
〃It is Mr。 Fentolin；〃 she whispered。 〃Please come in； let us go
in at once。 He only plays when he is excited。 I am afraid！ Oh；
I am afraid that something is goi