grasped the drawer of his desk and yanked it half open before he could pinion her wrist. The effort brought him crashing against the heavy chair in front of the desk. He tripped and lost his balance for an instant, loosing his grip upon her to seize the edge of the desk to prevent himself from falling.
Carmelita bounded to the other side of the desk, gasping for breath. Her wide eyes swept the room for any means of defense against him. Suddenly in the half-open drawer of the desk she caught sight of his revolver.
With a quick movement the revolver was in her hand. It was a long, heavy European style of weapon and she had to hold it in both hands.
The left sleeve of her gown had been torn entirely away in the struggle. Her shoulder and a portion of her back were bare.
"Let me go, Rao," she cried hysterically. "Don't come near me again—open the door." She was beside herself with fear and anger. At the moment she was capable of anything that would rescue her from him.
He was not afraid. He laughed at her. "You are insane. Put the gun down before you hurt yourself."
He was coming upon her again. She saw him coming as if through a haze and she was
