The windows were glazed in lattice panes of leadwork, hung in casements.  He broke one of the panes with a stone, thrust his hand through the hole, unfastened the latch which held the casement close, and began opening the window.

Instantly the shutters flew together with a slam, and were barred with desperate quickness by Cytherea on the inside.

‘Damn you!’ he exclaimed.

He ran round to the back of the house.  His impatience was greater now:  he thrust his fist through the pantry window at one blow, and opened it in the same way as the former one had been opened, before the terror-stricken girl was aware that he had gone round.  In an instant he stood in the pantry, advanced to the front room where she was, flung back the shutters, and held out his arms to embrace her.

In extremely trying moments of bodily or mental pain, Cytherea either flushed hot or faded pale, according to the state of her constitution at the moment.  Now she burned like fire from head to foot, and this preserved her consciousness.

Never before had the poor child’s natural agility served her in such good stead as now.  A heavy oblong table stood in the middle of the room.  Round this table she flew, keeping it between herself and Manston, her large eyes wide open with terror, their dilated pupils constantly fixed upon Manston’s, to read by his expression whether his next intention was to dart to the right or the left.

Even he, at that heated moment, could not endure the expression of unutterable agony which shone from that extraordinary gaze of hers.  It had surely been given her by God as a means of defence.  Manston continued his pursuit with a lowered eye.

The panting and maddened desperado—­blind to everything but the capture of his wife—­went with a rush under the table:  she went over it like a bird.  He went heavily over it:  she flew under it, and was out at the other side.

     ’One on her youth and pliant limbs relies,
      One on his sinews and his giant size.’

But his superior strength was sure to tire her down in the long-run.  She felt her weakness increasing with the quickness of her breath; she uttered a wild scream, which in its heartrending intensity seemed to echo for miles.

At the same juncture her hair became unfastened, and rolled down about her shoulders.  The least accident at such critical periods is sufficient to confuse the overwrought intelligence.  She lost sight of his intended direction for one instant, and he immediately outmanoeuvred her.

‘At last! my Cytherea!’ he cried, overturning the table, springing over it, seizing one of the long brown tresses, pulling her towards him, and clasping her round.  She writhed downwards between his arms and breast, and fell fainting on the floor.  For the first time his action was leisurely.  He lifted her upon the sofa, exclaiming, ‘Rest there for a while, my frightened little bird!’