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fiancé knows about you— and some of the nurses at the hospital! I’ve told so many people! The police have only to put a few questions here and there to get all the clues they need! You’ll be arrested the moment we land in
Greece—and you’ll stand trial and be sent to prison for years and years....’ Her voice began to falter to a lower pitch as she noticed the expression of sheer amusement that had settled on his face. Her words petered out altogether as a low laugh tilted the corners of his mouth. She swallowed convulsively; she should have known the hateful man would see through her deceit.
    ‘My child,’ he said with some considerable humour, ‘how transparent you are! You’ve thought of all this only seconds ago.’
    ‘It’s the truth!’ she said persistently, fighting to the very last inch. ‘True, I tell you I You’ll regret it if you ignore my warning!’
    ‘It’s a good try,’ he said, regarding her imperturbably from his superior height. ‘But you seem to have forgotten that you were willing, just now, to promise not to give me away to the police. Such a promise would be of little use if the police were already on the scent. And that is not the only blunder you’ve made. If you’d been so sure of rescue, and of my early arrest, you would not have pleaded the way you have.’ His eyes became admiring. ‘You’re not the girl to plead in that craven way—’
    ‘I was not craven!’ She looked as if she could have murdered him for using a word like that.
    ‘See what I mean? You have spirit, and I know just what it cost you to beg like that. You’d never have done it if, in your secret mind, you knew you would soon be rescued by the forces of the law.’
    ‘I hate you,’ she quivered. ‘I’d kill you if I could!’
    ‘At this moment, perhaps,’ he agreed unconcernedly. ‘But later you will feel very differently. I can so easily make you.’
    Her teeth clenching, she turned away and he went out, only to return a few minutes later carrying three cardboard boxes which he placed on the bed.
    ‘You’d better change,’ he recommended. ‘You can’t go about in a wedding-dress all the time.’ He paused, a mocking smile curving his mouth at her expression. ‘Yes, I have bought you clothes,’ he told her. ‘Top ones which I hope will meet your approval and underwear which I know will meet with mine, seeing that I chose them.’
    She stared, revolted.
    ‘You went into a shop for—for underwear?’ He laughed and assured her that he was used to buying such things.
    ‘My various pillow-friends have always expected this kind of gift—among more expensive ones, of course.’
    The contempt in her eyes grew, a circumstance which at last appeared to anger him. His mouth tightened, but as yet that was the only outward sign of his feelings.
    ‘You’ve had numerous women, evidently.’
    He inclined his head.
    ‘A fair number,’ he agreed, his glance straying to the bed. ‘Aren’t you going to open the boxes?’
    ‘No, I am not!’
    The compression of his mouth became more pronounced. He flicked a hand imperiously.
    ‘Open the boxes,’ he commanded.
    ‘I shan’t,’ she returned defiantly. ‘I don’t want your gifts, as you call them! Take them to some other of your friends!’
    ‘His eyes narrowed threateningly.
    ‘Obey me,’ he said harshly. ‘If you knew me better you wouldn’t need a second telling.’
    ‘Ordering, you mean!’
    ‘I’m in no mood for inane arguments,
Tara! Do as I say, at once!’
    She shook her head, a little afraid now on account of his manner which was threatening to say the least.
    ‘I don’t want your presents,’ she began, then gave a little squeal of pain as her wrist was taken in a vicious grip.
    ‘Do as I tell you!’ he thundered. ‘I shall make you, so you might as well capitulate before you receive something that will both hurt and humiliate.’ There was no mistaking the significant inflection in his voice and after a mere moment’s