‘Oh!’ she exclaimed, evidently frightened; then, after a pause, ‘I am a horrid little coward about thunderstorms: they just terrify me!’

‘Won’t you then take refuge in the Snuggery?’ I asked with a host’s look of concern. ‘I don’t think you will see the lightning there and you certainly won’t hear the thunder, as the room is soundproof. Shall we go there?’ and I opened the door invitingly.

Alice hesitated. Was her guardian angel trying to give her a premonitory hint of what her fate would be if she accepted my seemingly innocent suggestion? But at that moment came another flash of lightning, blinding in its intensity, and almost simultaneously a roar of thunder. This settled the question in my favour! ‘Yes, yes!’ she exclaimed, then ran out. I closely following her, my heart beating exultingly! Quickly she passed through the double doors into the Snuggery, the trap I had so carefully set for her! Noiselessly I bolted the outer door, then closed the inner one. Alice was now mine! mine!! At last I had entrapped her! Now my vengeance was about to be consummated! Now her chaste virgin self was to be submitted to my lust and compelled to satisfy my erotic desires! She was utterly at my mercy, and promptly I proceeded to work my cruel will on her!

Two

The soothing stillness of the room after the roar of the storm seemed most agreeable to Alice. She drew a deep breath of relief and turning to me she exclaimed: ‘What a wonderful room it really is, Jack! Just look how the rain is pelting down on the skylight, and yet we do not hear a sound!’

‘Yes! there is no doubt about it,’ I replied, ‘it is absolutely soundproof. I do not suppose that there is a better room in London for my special purpose!’