‘Oh no you don’t, girlie!’ With astonishing speed he was on her and slamming shut the door. When Molly began struggling and biting into the hand that was over her mouth he laughed aloud. ‘Struggle an’ shout all you like, Molly darling. There ain’t a soul to hear you. Unless o’ course you want to frighten your brats? But then, what could three young ’uns do, eh? Except cry for their mammy an’ wonder what she were screaming at.’ He shoved her towards the table, putting her back to it, and thrusting his body against her. ‘Naw!… I’m willing to gamble that you won’t scream an’ carry on, girlie. I reckon you ain’t the type to frighten three little innocents that way.’ He saw the horror in Molly’s eyes and, pushing his face close to hers, he laughed in a low, sinister voice. ‘I won’t hurt you, girlie. But, y’see… I won’t rest either… not till I feel you naked against me.’ He began unbuttoning her blouse, pausing only to hold out his unsteady hand in front of Molly’s eyes. ‘Look there, I’m that excited I can’t stop trembling. You’re a real beauty, y’know that? The kind a man hankers after in the dark, early hours. Oh, I bet your skin’s got the touch o’ velvet, ain’t it?… An’ you know how to treat a man, I reckon; know how to pull him into them slim thighs an’ allow him a deal o’ pleasure he’ll not likely forget in a hurry.’ His eyes were heavy with longing, his lips partly open, moist and reaching for her. He groaned when Molly struggled against him. ‘No, no. Don’t spoil it, girlie,’ he murmured, pinning her tight in his strong, thin arms. ‘Look, see this?’ He dragged her to where the open cash-box lay, its contents bulging. ‘Bank notes, an’ silver coins,’ he said. ‘You cooperate with me… make it worth me while, and I swear I’ll give you three times your wages. What d’you say to that, eh?’

Molly’s reply was swift and painful. With fierce determination that took him by surprise, she twisted herself far enough out of his grip to reach the cash-box. With her fingers locked round it, she brought it upwards in a straight line towards his head. There was a brief instant when his eyes opened wide with surprise at the bank notes fluttering to the carpet. Then, as the sharp edges of the tin box came crashing to the side of his head, the eyes darkened with fury. Molly felt his grip tighten round her throat, and she knew that it was either him or her! She felt herself choking, the room was spinning round and her senses were failing fast. But she found within her a mighty strength born of desperation. Again and again she brought the tin box against his temple, until at last his grip was relaxed. Yet still she could not move, because his whole weight had her trapped beneath him and the table. Slowly, she inched her way from beneath him, and when he slid silently to the floor, the awful horror of what she had done came over her. As she stared down, wide-eyed and disbelieving, her every limb was shaking uncontrollably, and a tide of nausea flooded her senses. Was he dead? Dear God, she hoped not! Her shocked eyes followed the trail of blood, crimson splashes everywhere; on the tablecloth, on the carpet, on the bank notes littered there, on her. On her!