. Now you are asked to give a practical
proof of your loyalty!"

The pitiless tongue lashed, and Arithelli shrank against the wall, her
hands over her eyes. There had been stories current among the younger
members of the Barcelona Anarchists that Sobrenski possessed the power
of hypnotism and did not scruple to use it. Some of the most daring
and successful outrages of the past years had been carried out under
his direction, and executed by these youths. He always made a point of
choosing men who were highly strung and impressionable. He was known
to boast that after three interviews with him he could make anyone,
either man or woman, into a will-less automaton.

He exhorted, jeered, encouraged and derided, finally giving Arithelli
five minutes in which to make her decision. She did not keep him
waiting, though he could scarcely hear the murmured words of assent.
Her nerve was broken at last. She would promise anything, do anything
if only he would let her go. Dazed with fear and misery, she watched
him get up, unlock a drawer of the bureau and come across to her
holding out something.

"I shall arrange for you to be together one night up in the hut. I
don't know whether you have any idea of shooting, but you can hardly
miss at such close range."

The brutal words steadied her, and drove back the feeling of mental
paralysis. She realised suddenly all that her promise meant. Vardri
had given her love, and in return she was to give him Death! Her own
dawning love had enabled her to see more clearly what his devotion
meant. With the growth of a woman's soul she had also begun to
experience womanly emotions, fear, anxiety, the need of sympathy and
affection.

She snatched the pistol from Sobrenski's hand, and he stepped back a
pace, throwing up his arm instinctively as she raised, levelled and
fired.

The weapon clicked harmlessly, her hand dropped to her side, and she
stood shivering, and wondering at her own madness. The whole thing had
been done without thinking, as an animal driven into a corner turns,
snarling and showing its teeth.

Sobrenski recovered himself first and laughed.

"So you thought it was loaded?" he said. "Do you take me for a fool?
Allow me to congratulate you on your--failure!"

Then changing his tone of sarcasm to command: "You must hide that
pistol carefully. Put it inside your dress or somewhere safe. I
suppose you would like to march down the Paseo de Gracia, carrying