Chapter FiveFor a moment there was silence, then Elmina faltered,
“I-I am sorry – I am so – sorry.”
“How the devil did you do that?” the Marquis enquired.
He did not rise, but only sat looking at her as if he could not believe that it had really happened.
“I-I am – sorry,” she said again. “Please – don’t be angry.”
“I think I am more surprised than angry – ” he began.
Then, looking at her standing in front of him in her diaphanous nightclothes, he suddenly began to laugh.
“This cannot be true!” he said. “It’s impossible!”
Then, as she still stood there irresolute, not knowing what to do, he said,
“If you want to talk to me and I realise that it is something we must do, get into bed.”
As she hesitated, he added,
“If it will make you happy, I promise not to touch you.”
There was
