The American Marquis by Nick Carter — page 124: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

120 — “THE AMERICAN MARQUIS. ‘Dare! When you tell me ‘something Elise Candolal does not dare, then talk. Bah! You once had a heart of / iron, but since you met your wonderful Bras-de-Fer “you” have exchanged it for a chicken’s.” ’ ‘‘What’s the use of being cross, Elise? I tell you, you don’t know him.” ‘T'ete-de-Fer was almost as submissive before this woman he adored as he was before Bras-de-Fer whom he feared. _“ He is a man, isn’t he, and only aman? Did you ever” see a-man who would Say what I should or should not do” ) ‘<'That is because you are so beautiful, Elise. All men must do as you bid.” ‘“‘Rah! You make me sick. Beauty! I know I Have it; but it is not that men are afraid of. It’s my claws and my teeth. Men look at me, and know | will scratch and « bite deep.” | ‘“ You can be fearful, Elise.” _ ‘Tete-de-Fer spoke admir ingly. | “Ah! And you pretend, maybe, you do as I tell you from love. I donot say you do not love; but it is fear— Robert, fear—that makes you do my will. Love! Cvel! If you only loved me, you would beat me. I know you, | Robert; and I tell you, you must ask that young French- American for more money, or I will leave you.’ ‘“And J will all you if you do.” ‘< Tf you can.’ : *“ Tf could strangle you now as I would ababy; you arenot _Bras-de-Fer.” *“ Do it.”’ : She threw back her head, as if inviting him, but her hand clutched something in the folds of her dress, and her — brown eyes were black in their rage. ) Tete-de-Fer laughed uneasily. ‘<1 was only joking.” ) ‘‘Tiar! You do not dare lay afingeronme! You know what it would cost you.” ** Now, what’s the use, Elise,” he said, coaxingly, ‘‘to get into a tantrum? Maybe I was jacana about the man.’ | ‘* Don’t play the fool with me, Robert. It was the man. There you stand, with a scar on your ribs now, of his — making, and you talk to me of your Bras-de-Fer! I swear to yOu ane you know if I keep my oaths—that, if © /Sicomicbooksicom