Chapter 9
Margaret's night was disturbed, and next day she was unable to
go about her work with her usual tranquillity. She tried to reason
herself into a natural explanation of the events that had happened.
The telegram that Susie had received pointed to a definite scheme
on Haddo's part, and suggested that his sudden illness was but a
device to get into the studio. Once there, he had used her natural
sympathy as a means whereby to exercise his hypnotic power, and all
she had seen was merely the creation of his own libidinous fancy.
But though she sought to persuade herself that, in playing a vile
trick on her, he had taken a shameful advantage of her pity, she
could not look upon him with anger. Her contempt for him, her utter
loathing, were alloyed with a feeling that arouse
