"You can use that thing later," Rudolph said. "She's sick now.
Better let her alone."
"I will teach her to run away," Herman muttered thickly. "She left
me, her father, and threw away a good job - I - "
"You come down-stairs. I've something to say to you."
And, after a time, Herman had followed him down, but he still clung
doggedly to the strap.
Rudolph led the way outside, and here in the darkness he told Anna's
story, twisted and distorted through his own warped mind, but
convincing and partially true. Herman's silence began to alarm him,
however, and when at last he rose and made for the door, Rudolph
was before him.
"What are you going to do?"
Herman said nothing, but he raised the strap and held it menacingly.
"Get out of my way."
"Don't be a fool," Rudolph entreated. "You can beat her to death,
and what do you get out of it? She'll run away again if you touch
her. Put that strap down. I'm not afraid of you."
Their voices, raised and angry, penetrated through Anna's haze of
fright and faintness.
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