Alan threw away his cigarette with an angry gesture.

“You can’t play fast and loose with me, Tony Holiday.  You have been leading me on, playing the devil with me for days.  You know you have.  Now you are scared, and want to get back to shallow water.  It is too late.  You are in deep seas and you’ve got to stay there—­with me.”

“I haven’t got to do anything, Alan.  You are claiming more than you have any right to claim.”

But he came nearer, towered above her, almost menacingly.

“Because that nameless fool of a reporter with his sanctimonious airs and impeccable morals, has put you against me you want to sack me.  You can’t do it.  Last night you were ready to go any lengths with me.  You know it.  Do you think I am going to be balked by a miserable circus brat—­a mere nobody?  Not so long as I am Alan Massey.  Count on that.”

Tony’s dark eyes were ablaze with anger.

“Stop there, Alan.  You are saying things that are not true.  And I forbid you ever to speak of Dick like that again to me.”

“Indeed!  And how are you going to prevent my saying what I please about your precious protege?” sneered Alan.

“I shall tell Carlotta I won’t stay under the same roof with anybody who insults my friends.  You won’t have to restrain yourself long in any case.  I am leaving Saturday—­perhaps sooner.”

“Tony!” The sneer died away from Alan’s face, which had suddenly grown white.  “You mustn’t go.  I can’t live without you, my darling.  If you knew how I worshiped you, how I cannot sleep of nights for wanting you, you wouldn’t talk of going away from me.  I was brutal just now.  I admit it.  It is because I love you so.  The thought of your turning from me, deserting me, maddened me.  I am not responsible for what I said.  You must forgive me.  But, oh my belovedest, you are mine!  Don’t try to deny it.  We have belonged to each other for always.  You know it.  You feel it.  I have seen the knowledge in your eyes, felt it flutter in your heart.  Will you marry me, Tony Holiday?  You shall be loved as no woman was ever loved.  You shall be my queen.  I will be true to you forever and ever, your slave, your mate.  Tony, Tony, say yes.  You must!”

But Tony drew back from him, frightened, repulsed, shocked, by the storm of his passion which shook him as mighty trees are shaken by tempests.  She shrank from the hungry fires in his eyes, from the abandon and fierceness of his wooing.  It was an alien, disturbing, dreadful thing to her.

“Don’t,” she implored.  “You mustn’t love me like that, Alan.  You must not.”

“How can I help it, sweetheart?  I am no iceberg.  I am a man and you are the one woman in the world for me.  I love you—­love you.  I want you.  I’m going to have you—­make you mine—­marry you, bell and book, what you will, so long as you are mine—­mine—­mine.”

Tony set down her basket, clasped her hands behind her and stood looking straight up into his face.