Part 38 (1/2)

I had well-nigh chosen to try the room at the left, when the door opposite me opened without noise, and a figure glided into the chamber, swiftly and silently. The movement was that of a person who rapidly traverses a place in search of some one.

”Mademoiselle!”

She heard me, saw me, stopped, and stood with parted lips, astounded face, and terror-stricken eyes.

So we stood, the width of the room between us, regarding each other.

CHAPTER XVI.

BEHIND THE CURTAINS

So we stood. Irresistible as had been my impulse to follow her, I now found myself held back, as if by the look in her eyes, from approaching nearer. So, while she gazed at me in wonder and terror, I regarded her with inexpressible scorn and love, horror and adoration.

Presently she spoke, in a terrified whisper:

”Why are you here?”

I answered in a low voice:

”Because you are here. Like a poisonous flower you lure me. A flower you are in outward beauty! Never was poison more sweetly concealed than is treachery in you!”

”You were mad to follow me!” she said, and then she cast a quick, apprehensive glance around the chamber, a glance that took in the different doors one after another.

I thought she meant that, as we were in the stronghold of my enemies and her friends, it would be madness in me to attempt to punish her treachery. So I replied:

”Seek not to fright me from vengeance, for I intend none! I did not come to punish. I do not know why it is, but where you are not I cannot rest.

I am drawn to you as by some power of magic. I would be with you even in h.e.l.l! Spy, traitress that you are, I love you! Your dupe that I am, I love you!” I went to where, with downcast eyes, she stood, and I caught her hand and pressed it to my lips. ”I make myself a jest, a thing for laughter, do I not, kissing the hand that would slay me?”

She raised her eyes, and held out her hand towards the fire-place, saying:

”The hand that I would thrust into the flame to save you from the lightest harm!”

What? Now that I was here, now that my capture seemed certain, would she pretend that she had not acted for La Chatre against me? She did not know that I had met Pierre, and what he had confessed to me.

”Mock me as you will, mademoiselle!” said I.

”Mistrust me as _you_ will, monsieur! I tell you, I would not have you undergo the smallest harm!”

”You well sustain the jest!”

”Before G.o.d,” she answered, ”I do not jest!”

There was in her voice a ring of earnestness that seemed impossible to be counterfeit. Puzzled, I looked at her, trying to read her countenance.

”Yet,” I said, presently, ”you were a spy upon me!”

”I was, G.o.d pity me! Scourge me with rough words as you will; I merit every blow!”