Chapter 21
Reginald's revelations were followed by a long silence,
interrupted only by the officiousness of the waiter. The spell once
broken, they exchanged a number of more or less irrelevant
observations. Ethel's mind returned, again and again, to the word
he had not spoken. He had said nothing of the immediate bearing of
his monstrous power upon her own life and that of Ernest
Fielding.
At last, somewhat timidly, she approached the subject.
"You said you loved me," she remarked.
"I did."
"But why, then—"
"I could not help it."
"Did you ever make the slightest attempt?"
"In the horrible night hours I struggled against it. I even
implored you to leave me."
"Ah, but I loved you!"
"You would not be warned, you would not
listen. You stayed with me, and slowly, surely, the
