(1941) Up at the Villa by W. Somerset Maugham Read Free Book Online Page B

done you harm. I want to make up for the
harm. If I've offended you, if I've hurt you, I ask your forgiveness. I only
wanted your good.’
    `You lie. An idle, sensual, worthless
woman. What good have .you ever done in your life. I wonder? You go
about seeking excitement, new experiences, anything to cheat your boredom, and
you don't care what injury you cause to others. But this time you've made a
mistake. It's a risk to take strange men into one's house. I took you for a
goddess and you're just a whore. It would be a good thing, maybe, if I
strangled you to prevent you from hurting others as you've hurt me. I could,
you know. Who would ever suspect me? Who saw me coming into this house?'
    He took a step towards her. She was seized with panic. He
looked sinister and menacing. His gaunt face was distorted with hatred and
those dark deep-set eyes flashed. She made an effort at self-control. She was
still holding the bag in her hand; she snatched the revolver and pointed it at
him.
    `If you don't go at once I shall fire!’ she cried.
    `Fire, then.’
    He took another step towards her.
    `If you come an inch nearer I shall shoot’
    `Shoot. Do you think life means anything to me? You will
be robbing me of an intolerable burden. Shoot and I'll forgive you everything.
I love you!'
    His face was transfigured. The sullen rage was wiped
clean off it and his great black eyes shone with exaltation. He came towards
her, his head thrown back, his arms outspread,
offering his breast to her aim.
    `You can say a thief broke into your room and you shot
him dead. Quick, quick!'
    She let the revolver fall from her hand and throwing
herself into a chair hid her face and burst into a passion of tears. He looked
at her for a moment.
    'Hadn't you the courage? Poor child. How stupid you are, how terribly stupid. You mustn't
play with men as you played with me. Come.’
    He put his arms round her and tried to lift her to her
feet. She did not know what he wanted and, still sobbing bitterly, clung to the
chair. He hit her hand roughly, so that, crying out with the pain, she let go
instinctively; with a swift gesture he picked her up, carried her across the
room and roughly threw her down on the bed. He flung himself beside her, took
her in his arms and covered her face with kisses. She tried to get away from
him, but he would not let her go. He was strong, much stronger than he looked;
and she was powerless in his firm grasp. At last she ceased to resist.
    A few minutes later he got up. She was shattered. He
stood at the side of the bed looking down at her.
    `You asked me not to forget you. I shall forget, but you
won't'
      She did not stir.
She glared at him with terrified eyes. He gave a little harsh laugh.
    `Don't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you.’
    She said nothing. Unable to withstand the anger of his
cruel stare, she closed her eyes. She heard him move stealthily about the
darkened room. Suddenly she heard a report and then the sound of a fall. It
brought her to her feet with a shriek of dismay.
    `God, what have you done?' He was lying in front of the
window, with the moonlight pouring down on him. She flung herself down on her
knees beside him and called him by his name.
    `Karl, Karl, what have you done?'
    She took him by the hand and when she dropped it, it fell
with a lifeless thud on the floor. She put her hand on his face and on his
heart. He was dead. She fell back on her heels and stared at the body with
terror. Her mind went blank. She did not know what to do. Her head swam and she
was afraid she was going to faint.
    Suddenly she started, for she had heard a pattering in
the passage, the patter of bare feet; then it stopped and she knew that there
was someone outside the door, listening. She stared at it in a panic. There was
a soft little knock. She was trembling violently, and it was only by a violent
effort that she choked down the scream that came to her lips. She sat there, on
the