Also,
she hoped that by quarrelling with him she would be able to prevent
his perceiving the suspicious little sound--now growing louder and more
noticeable.
"The happiness that you so eloquently describe, my lord, would be for me
a disgrace, which I am resolved to escape by death, if all other means
fail me. You never shall have me living. Formerly I regarded you with
indifference, but now I both hate and despise you, for your infamous,
outrageous and violent behaviour to me, your helpless victim. Yes, I may
as well tell you openly--and I glory in it--that I do love the Baron de
Sigognac, whom you have more than once so basely tried to assassinate,
through your miserable hired ruffians."
The strange noise still kept on, and Isabelle raised her voice to drown
it. At her audacious, defiant words, so distinctly and impressively
enunciated--hurled at him, as it were--Vallombreuse turned pale, and his
eyes flashed ominously; a light foam gathered about the corners of his
mouth, and he laid hold of the handle of his sword. For an instant he
thought of killing Isabelle himself, then and there. If he could not
have her, at least no one else should. But he relinquished that idea
almost as soon as it occurred to him, and with a hard, forced laugh
said, as he sprang up and advanced impetuously towards Isabelle, who
retreated before him:
"Now, by all the devils in hell, I cannot help admiring you immensely
in this mood.
Pages:
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525