“And – if he – refuses?”
“I have already told you,” Mr. Thespidos said in an oily voice, “that you resemble Aphrodite!”
“But the Aphrodite that his Lordship is interested in was made of marble!” Corena said scathingly. “I doubt if he would be interested in a – living version.”
“In which case your father will remain where he is – until we find him an encumbrance!”
This was plain speaking and only with a superhuman effort did Corena prevent herself from screaming.
Instead she turned round towards the mantelpiece to stand with her back to Mr. Thespidos.
She could hardly believe what she had just heard was not some terrible nightmare from which she would wake up and find that it was all untrue.
How could her father, who was so intelligent, find himself in the clutches of this horrible m
