Part 17 (2/2)
”Giovanni,” said she, firmly, ”tell me the whole story of this painful affair. It is imperative that I should know it!”
”Do you doubt me, Zuleika, do you doubt me?” he asked, bitterly, and he buried his face in his hands.
”Do I doubt you, Giovanni? No. But, if you love me, tell me all the details of the trouble between my brother and yourself!”
”I cannot, I cannot, Zuleika!” he cried. ”Command me to shed the last drop of blood in my veins for you and I will do it without an instant's hesitation, but I cannot tell you that terrible tale of deceit, treachery and bloodshed!”
He had arisen and was walking excitedly about the salon; his pallor had increased and he trembled in every limb.
Zuleika stood with folded arms and gazed at him; she was calm and her eyes had a look of determination the young man had never before beheld in them; it filled him with dismay. A few moments ago she had been all love and tenderness, a yielding, trusting maiden in her lover's arms; now, she resembled a beautiful Amazon bent on achieving a victory, whom nothing but unconditional surrender would satisfy.
”The story, the story,” she repeated, ”tell me the story!”
Her face was as white as marble and her faultless lips seemed chiseled from stone. She looked so beautiful and tempting as she stood there, her surpa.s.sing loveliness enhanced by the picturesque half-oriental, half-Parisian dress she wore, that the Viscount felt his pa.s.sion for her redoubled. He flung himself at her feet and seizing the hem of her superb robe kissed it rapturously.
”Oh! Zuleika, Zuleika,” he cried, utterly unable to restrain himself, ”I am your slave! Place your tiny foot upon my neck and crush me where I lie! I shall expire adoring you!”
”Giovanni,” replied Zuleika, greatly moved by this display of devotion, ”rise and be a man!”
The Italian sprang up as if he had been struck by a thunderbolt; then he endeavored to clasp her in his arms, but she quietly repulsed him.
”Zuleika,” cried he, sadly, ”you do not love me; you never loved me; I have been the victim of a cruel deception!”
”If you think so,” answered the young girl, quietly, ”there is but one course you can pursue as a man of honor--spurn the deceiver from you and never look upon her face again!”
The young man gazed at her reproachfully.
”What have I done to turn you thus against me?” he asked, his tone suddenly becoming humble.
”What have you done? You refuse to reveal this mystery to me, which, as you yourself admit, involves deceit, treachery and bloodshed, and which, for aught I know, has set an indelible stain upon your life! I love you truly, love you with all the pa.s.sion of a woman's nature, but I must know this history that I may judge whether you are worthy of my love!”
”I a.s.sure you, Zuleika, that there is no stain upon my life, that there is nothing in this history that tends in the least to dishonor me, but still I cannot speak.”
”Then we must separate.”
”Oh! Zuleika, Zuleika, do not be pitiless! You will drive me mad!”
The young girl touched a bell and Ali, the Nubian, appeared.
”Monsieur is about taking his departure,” said she to the faithful servant. ”I leave him in your hands.”
And without a word of farewell to Giovanni, she swept from the salon like a queen.
The Viscount gazed after her with indescribable sadness pictured upon his handsome countenance. Then he followed Ali, put on his overcoat and hat and regretfully left the house.
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