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n。 It so happened that there was nowhere in sight a single article of her apparel or for her toilet that was not bought with the general's money。 No； there were some hairpins that she had paid for herself； and a comb with widely separated teeth that she had chanced to see in a window when she was alone one day。 Anything else？ Yes； a two…franc box of pins。 And that was all。 Everything else belonged to the general。 In the closets； in the trunksall the general's； part of the trousseau he had paid for。 Not an undergarment； not an outer garment； not a hat or a pair of shoes； not a wrap； not a pair of gloves。 All； the general's。
He was in the door of the dressing…roomthe small wiry figure in rose…silk pajamas。 The mustache and imperial were carefully waxed as always； day and night。 On the little feet were high…heeled slippers。 On the head was a rose…silk Neapolitan nightcap with gay tassel。 The nightcap hid the bald spot from which the lofty toupee had been removed。 A grotesque little figure； but not grotesque to her。 Through the mask of the vain； boastful little face she saw the general watching her； as she had seen him that afternoon when she came inthe mysterious and terrible personality that had made the vast fortune； that had ridden ruthlessly over friend and foe； over man and woman and childto the goal of its desires。
‘‘It's late； my dear？'' said the little man。 ‘‘Come to bed。''
She rose to obeyshe in the general's purchases of filmy nightgown under a pale…pink silk dressing…gown。
He smiled with that curious noiseless mumbling and smacking of the thin lips。 She sat down again。
‘‘Don't keep me waiting。 It's chilly；'' he said； advancing toward her。
‘‘I shall sleep in here to…nighton the couch；'' said she。 She was trembling with fright at her own audacity。 She could see a fifty…centime piece and a copper dancing before her eyes。 She felt horribly alone and weak； but she had no desire to retract the words with which she had thrown down the gauntlet。
The little general halted。 The mask dropped； the man； the monster； looked at her。 ‘‘What's the matter？'' said he in an ominously quiet voice。
‘‘Mr。 Harding delivered your message to…day；'' said she； and her steady voice astonished her。 ‘‘So I am going back home。''
He waited； looking steadily at her。
‘‘After he told me and I thought about it； I decided to submit； but just now I saw that I couldn't。 I don't know what possesses me。 I don't know what I'm going to do； or how I'm going to do it。 But it's all over between us。'' She said this rapidly； fluently； in a decisive way； quite foreign to her character as she had thought it。
‘‘You are coming to bed； where you belong；'' said he quietly。
‘‘No；'' replied she； pressing herself against her chair as if force were being used to drag her from it。 She cast about for something that would make yielding impossible。 ‘‘You arerepulsive to me。''
He looked at her without change of countenance。 Said he： ‘‘Come to bed。 I ask you for the last time。''
There was no anger in his voice； no menace either open or covert； simply finalitythe last word of the man who had made himself feared and secure in the mining…camps where the equation of personal courage is straightway applied to every situation。 Mildred shivered。 She longed to yield； to stammer out some excuse and obey him。 But she could not； nor was she able to rise from her chair。 She saw in his hard eyes a look of astonishment； of curiosity as to this unaccountable defiance in one who had seemed docile； who had apparently no alternative but obedience。 He was not so astonished at her as she was at herself。 ‘‘What is to become of me？'' her terror…stricken soul was crying。 ‘‘I must do as he saysI mustyet I cannot！'' And she looked at him and sat motionless。
He turned away； moved slowly toward the door； halted at the threshold to give her time； was gone。 A fit of trembling seized her； she leaned forward and rested her arms upon the dressing…table or she would have fallen from the chair to the floor。 Yet； even as her fear made her sick and weak； she knew that she would not yield。
The cold drove her to the couch； to lie under half a dozen of the dressing…gowns and presently to fall into a sleep of exhaustion。 When she awoke after what she thought was a few minutes of unconsciousness； the clamor of traffic in the Rue de Rivoli startled her。 She started up； glanced at the clock on the chimneypiece。 It was ten minutes past nine！ When； by all the rules governing the action of the nerves； she ought to have passed a wakeful night she had overslept more than an hour。 Indeed； she had had the first sound and prolonged sleep that had come to her since the honeymoon began； for until then she had slept alone all her life and the new order had almost given her chronic insomnia。 She rang for her maid and began to dress。 The maid did not come。 She rang again and again； apparently the bell was broken。 She finished dressing and went out into the huge； grandly and gaudily furnished salon。 Harding was at a carved old…gold and lacquer desk； writing。 As she entered he rose and bowed。
‘‘Won't you please call one of the servants？'' said she。 ‘‘I want my coffee。 I guess the bell in my room is broken。 My maid doesn't answer。''
‘‘No； the bell is not broken；'' said Harding。
She looked at him questioningly。
‘‘The general has issued an order that nothing is to be done in this apartment； and nothing served； unless he personally authorizes it。''
Mildred paled； drew herself up in what seemed a gesture of haughtiness but was an effort to muster her strength。 To save herself from the humiliation of a breakdown before him； she hastily retreated by the way she had come。 After perhaps a quarter of an hour she reappeared in the salon； she was now dressed for the street。 Harding looked up from his writing； rose and bowed gravely。 Said she：
‘‘I am going out for a walk。 I'll be back in an hour or so。''
‘‘One moment；'' said Harding； halting her as she was opening the door into the public hall。 ‘‘The general has issued an order that if you go out； you are not to be allowed to return。''
Her hand fell from the knob。 With flashing eyes she cried； ‘‘But that is impossible！''
‘‘It is his orders；'' said Harding； in his usual quiet manner。 ‘‘And as he pays the bills he will be obeyed。''
She debated。 Against her will； her trembling hand sought the knob again。 Against her will； her weak arm began to draw the door open。 Harding came toward her； stood before her and looked directly into her eyes。 His eyes had dread and entreaty in them； but his voice was as always when he said：
‘‘You know him； Mrs。 Siddall。''
‘‘Yes；'' she said。
‘‘The reason he has got ALL he wantedwhatever he wantedis that he will go to any length。 Every other human being； almost； has a limit； beyond which they will not goa physical fear or a moral fear or a fear of public opinion。 But the generalhe has no limit。''
‘‘Yes；'' she said。 And deathly pale and almost stag… gering she drew open the door and went out into the public hall。
‘‘For God's sake； Mrs。 Siddall！'' cried Harding； in great agitation。 ‘‘Come in quickly。 They are watching they will te