“Mr. Ramage, I came here—­I didn’t suppose for one moment you would dare—­”

“Nonsense!  That is your mistake!  You are too intellectual.  You want to do everything with your mind.  You are afraid of kisses.  You are afraid of the warmth in your blood.  It’s just because all that side of your life hasn’t fairly begun.”

He made a step toward her.

“Mr. Ramage,” she said, sharply, “I have to make it plain to you.  I don’t think you understand.  I don’t love you.  I don’t.  I can’t love you.  I love some one else.  It is repulsive.  It disgusts me that you should touch me.”

He stared in amazement at this new aspect of the situation.  “You love some one else?” he repeated.

“I love some one else.  I could not dream of loving you.”

And then he flashed his whole conception of the relations of men and women upon her in one astonishing question.  His hand went with an almost instinctive inquiry to his jawbone again.  “Then why the devil,” he demanded, “do you let me stand you dinners and the opera—­and why do you come to a cabinet particuliar with me?”

He became radiant with anger.  “You mean to tell me” he said, “that you have a lover?  While I have been keeping you!  Yes—­keeping you!”

This view of life he hurled at her as if it were an offensive missile.  It stunned her.  She felt she must fly before it and could no longer do so.  She did not think for one moment what interpretation he might put upon the word “lover.”

“Mr. Ramage,” she said, clinging to her one point, “I want to get out of this horrible little room.  It has all been a mistake.  I have been stupid and foolish.  Will you unlock that door?”

“Never!” he said.  “Confound your lover!  Look here!  Do you really think I am going to run you while he makes love to you?  No fear!  I never heard of anything so cool.  If he wants you, let him get you.  You’re mine.  I’ve paid for you and helped you, and I’m going to conquer you somehow—­if I have to break you to do it.  Hitherto you’ve seen only my easy, kindly side.  But now confound it! how can you prevent it?  I will kiss you.”

“You won’t!” said Ann Veronica; with the clearest note of determination.

He seemed to be about to move toward her.  She stepped back quickly, and her hand knocked a wine-glass from the table to smash noisily on the floor.  She caught at the idea.  “If you come a step nearer to me,” she said, “I will smash every glass on this table.”

“Then, by God!” he said, “you’ll be locked up!”

Ann Veronica was disconcerted for a moment.  She had a vision of policemen, reproving magistrates, a crowded court, public disgrace.  She saw her aunt in tears, her father white-faced and hard hit.  “Don’t come nearer!” she said.

There was a discreet knocking at the door, and Ramage’s face changed.

“No,” she said, under her breath, “you can’t face it.”  And she knew that she was safe.