QUOTE : Each time she emerged from his embrace, René sought over her person for the mark of a god. O knew that if he had betrayed her several hours before, it had been to provoke the inscription of additional, crueller marks. She also knew that whilst the reasons for provoking them might disappear, Sir Stephen’s for inflicting them would not. A pity. (But, secretly, she didn’t consider it a pity, but the contrary.) Stunned, René stared for a very long time at that slender body upon which thick purple welts ran like ropes across shoulders, back, buttocks, belly and breasts, two welts sometimes intersecting. Here and there a drop or two of blood oozed through the skin. ‘Ah, I love you,’ he murmured. His hands trembling, he undressed, turned off the light and lay down beside O, close to her. She moaned in the darkness all the while he possessed her.