You are
extreme in everything. On the word of a fool and the slander of a
woman you suspected that one who had just saved your life was capable
of betraying you."
"Yes," he said, smiling, "I have been very cruel to you; but
nevertheless, forget it; I shall never forget it. Hear me. I have been
shamefully deceived; but so many circumstances on that fatal day told
against you--"
"And those circumstances were stronger than your love?"
He hesitated; she made a motion of contempt, and rose.
"Oh, Marie. I shall never cease to believe in you now."
"Then throw that fire away. You are mad. Open your hand; I insist upon
it."
He took delight in still resisting the soft efforts of her fingers,
but she succeeded in opening the hand she would fain have kissed.
"What good did that do you?" she said, as she tore her handkerchief
and laid it on the burn, which the marquis covered with his glove.
Madame du Gua had stolen softly into the cardroom, watching the lovers
with furtive eyes, but escaping theirs adroitly; it was, however,
impossible for her to understand their conversation from their
actions.
"If all that they said of me was true you must admit that I am avenged
at this moment," said Marie, with a look of malignity which startled
the marquis.
"What feeling brought you here?" he asked.
"Do you suppose, my dear friend, that you can despise a woman like me
with impunity? I came here for your sake and for my own," she
continued, after a pause, laying her hand on the hilt of rubies in her
bosom and showing him the blade of her dagger.
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