Part 8 (1/2)
”Yes.”
”You love him?”
”Dearly. With all my heart.”
”You are going to marry him?”
”Yes.”
And not all her pity could keep the joy from her tone as she uttered the last monosyllable.
”My G.o.d! My G.o.d!”
The suffering in his white face was awful to see. Her eyes filled with tears. She knew that she had done this man no wrong, that he had never had a single word of definite encouragement from her, that, time after time, she had told him that his love was hopeless. Yet her heart was heavy as she watched his anguish.
”Leonardo!” she said softly, ”I am sorry. But surely you do not blame me? Is it my fault that I love him, and not you? Have I not begged you often to accept the only answer I could ever give you? Be generous, Leonardo, and let us be friends.”
It was several moments before he spoke, and then it seemed as though there had been a conflict in the man, and the worse half had conquered.
The dumb grief in his eyes, which had been so piteous to witness, had changed suddenly into a furious, pa.s.sionate anger. He shook with the violence of his emotions, and though she was used to his stormy, impetuous nature, she was frightened.
”Friends! A curse upon such folly! Is it for friends.h.i.+p's sake that I have followed you here at the risk of my life, just to breathe the same air, to look but now and then into your face? Ah! Adrienne! Adrienne!
listen once more to me. Do you think that he can love as I do? Never!
never! I know that sluggish English temperament. Their wives are their servants or their dolls. Their pa.s.sion is the pa.s.sion of animals, and they have not even constancy.”
She held out her hand. He had destroyed her pity. Henceforth he was obnoxious to her.
”Leave me,” she commanded. ”You are talking of what you do not understand. You are insulting me. I detest you!”
”Detest me!” he laughed hysterically, and the fire in his eyes grew brighter. ”Since when? Since this cursed Englishman whispered his lies into your ears and stole you from me. Nay, do not shake your head. Mine you would have been some day, as surely as now you have made my life a h.e.l.l. My love would have conquered in the end. It would have worn away your coldness and your resistance drop by drop. Mother of G.o.d! it shall conquer! Do I come of a race who are content to stand calmly by and see the woman they love stolen away by strangers? No!”
He stopped short, and there was a strange look in his face. Adrienne saw it, and trembled.
”Leonardo,” she said, ”I call a man who cannot bear a disappointment a coward. I do not love you; and under no circ.u.mstances whatever would it have been possible for me ever to have married you. Never! never!”
He turned on his heel and walked away.
”We shall see!” he said. ”_Au revoir_, my cousin.”
The emphasis in his tone, and a certain fixed look in his face chilled her. She held up her hands, and he stayed.
”Listen!” she said, speaking slowly, and with her eyes fixed steadily upon him. ”I do not wish to think ill of you; I do not wish to think that you could harm the man I love; but, if you did--if you did, I say--you should taste a woman's vengeance! You think me weak, but there are things which will fire the blood and steel the nerve of a weaker woman than I am. Remember, Leonardo! Lift but your little finger against Lord St. Maurice, and all ties of kindred and country are forgotten.
Those means which lie ready to my hand, I will use! I have warned you!
Remember!”
Her tone had pa.s.sed from earnestness to solemnity; her att.i.tude, her final gesture, were full of dramatic grace. Beside her, he appeared mean and insignificant.
”I thank you for your candor, cousin,” he said slowly. ”If I harm your lover----”
”If you harm him,” she interrupted fiercely, ”you will win my undying hate, even while you are undergoing my vengeance. You know my power, Leonardo; you know the means which lie ready to my hand. Never doubt but that I shall use them.”