But I only thought to bring that proud marquis to trouble and humiliation.He plotted with Austria against his own country.Chance gave me knowledge of this; I spoke of it, but I did not know--how could I guess?--they trapped and duped me.When I realised what I had done, it was too late.""It is perhaps a little difficult, Madame," said Sir Percy, after a moment of silence between them, "to go back over the past.Ihave confessed to you that my memory is short, but the thought certainly lingered in my mind that, at the time of the Marquis' death, I entreated you for an explanation of those same noisome popular rumours.If that same memory does not, even now, play me a trick, Ifancy that you refused me ALL explanation then, and demanded of my love a humiliating allegiance it was not prepared to give.""I wished to test your love for me, and it did not bear the test.You used to tell me that you drew the very breath of life but for me, and for love of me.""And to probe that love, you demanded that I should forfeit mine honour," he said, whilst gradually his impassiveness seemed to leave him, his rigidity to relax; "that I should accept without murmur or question, as a dumb and submissive slave, every action of my mistress.My heart overflowing with love and passion, I ASKED for no explanation--I WAITED for one, not doubting--only hoping.Had you spoken but one word, from you I would have accepted any explanation and believed it.But you left me without a word, beyond a bald confession of the actual horrible facts; proudly you returned to your brother's house, and left me alone...for weeks...not knowing, now, in whom to believe, since the shrine, which contained my one illusion, lay shattered to earth at my feet."She need not complain now that he was cold and impassive; his very voice shook with an intensity of passion, which he was making superhuman efforts to keep in check.
"Aye! the madness of my pride!" she said sadly."Hardly had I gone, already I had repented.But when I returned, I found you, oh, so altered! wearing already that mask of somnolent indifference which you have never laid aside until...until now."She was so close to him that her soft, loose hair was wafted against his cheek; her eyes, glowing with tears, maddened him, the music in her voice sent fire through his veins.But he would not yield to the magic charm of this woman whom he had so deeply loved, and at whose hands his pride had suffered so bitterly.He closed his eyes to shut out the dainty vision of that sweet face, of that snow-white neck and graceful figure, round which the faint rosy light of dawn was just beginning to hover playfully.
"Nay, Madame, it is no mask," he said icily; "I swore to you...once, that my life was yours.For months now it has been your plaything...it has served its purpose."But now she knew that the very coldness was a mask.The trouble, the sorrow she had gone through last night, suddenly came back into her mind, but no longer with bitterness, rather with a feeling that this man who loved her, would help her bear the burden.
"Sir Percy," she said impulsively, "Heaven knows you have been at pains to make the task, which I had set to myself, difficult to accomplish.You spoke of my mood just now; well! we will call it that, if you will.I wished to speak to you...because...because Iwas in trouble...and had need...of your sympathy.""It is yours to command, Madame."
"How cold you are!" she sighed."Faith! I can scarce believe that but a few months ago one tear in my eye had set you well-nigh crazy.Now I come to you...with a half-broken heart...and...
and..."
"I pray you, Madame," he said, whilst his voice shook almost as much as hers, "in what way can I serve you?""Percy!--Armand is in deadly danger.A letter of his...
rash, impetuous, as were all his actions, and written to Sir Andrew Ffoulkes, has fallen into the hands of a fanatic.Armand is hopelessly compromised...to-morrow, perhaps he will be arrested...
after that the guillotine...unless...oh! it is horrible!"...
she said, with a sudden wail of anguish, as all the events of the past night came rushing back to her mind, "horrible!...and you do not understand...you cannot...and I have no one to whom I can turn...for help...or even for sympathy..."Tears now refused to be held back.All her trouble, her struggles, the awful uncertainty of Armand's fate overwhelmed her.
She tottered, ready to fall, and leaning against the tone balustrade, she buried her face in her hands and sobbed bitterly.
At first mention of Armand St.Just's name and of the peril in which he stood, Sir Percy's face had become a shade more pale; and the look of determination and obstinacy appeared more marked than ever between his eyes.However, he said nothing for the moment, but watched her, as her delicate frame was shaken with sobs, watched her until unconsciously his face softened, and what looked almost like tears seemed to glisten in his eyes.