The realisation of the folly of trying to escape from the burden that
had been laid upon her affected her nerve and seat during her
performances in the ring.
For the first time she felt her courage failing her when she entered
Sobrenski's house in answer to his summons. When he had given her the
despatch she made an objection on the grounds that the time taken in
conveying it would absorb her few hours of rest.
"It's too far," she protested. "I can't go there to-day."
"Then you can go to-morrow," answered Sobrenski in the accents of
finality. He had never cared about the girl's inclusion in their
plots, and took his revenge in exacting from her considerably more than
his pound of flesh.
Moreover he suspected her of treachery, and disliked her for the
quickness of her wit in argument.
Even his unseeing eyes told him she looked both ill and haggard, but if
she were there, well, she must work like the rest of them.
Arithelli hesitated for a moment, and when she spoke for all her pluck
her voice was a little rough and uneven.
Pages:
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69