Volume II Part 27 (1/2)
”But, who is wronged by it? My sister and the person she desires to marry are single; both regret bitterly the child they have lost; to deceive them is to restore to them happiness--life; it is to a.s.sure some forsaken young girl a most happy lot: thus it is a n.o.ble, generous action, and not a crime.”
”Truly,” cried the notary, with increasing indignation, ”I see how the most execrable projects can be colored with--”
”But reflect.”
”I repeat to you, madame, that it is infamous. It is a shame to see a woman of your rank contriving such abominations, to which your sister, I hope, is a stranger.”
”Sir!”
”Enough, madame, enough! I am not a gallant, not I. I tell you the naked truth.”
Sarah cast on the notary one of her dark looks, and said coldly, ”You refuse?”
”No new insult, madame!”
”Take care!”
”Threats?”
”Threats! and to prove to you that they will not be in vain, learn, in the first place, that I have no sister.”
”What, madame?”
”I am the mother of this child.”
”You?”
”I invented this fable to interest you. You are without pity: I raise the mask. You want war! well, war be it.”
”War! because I refuse to lend myself to a criminal act? what audacity!”
”Listen to me, sir; your reputation as an honest man is great--known far and near.”
”Because it is merited. You must have lost your reason before you would have dared to make such a proposition?”
”Better than any one, I know, sir, how much one ought to suspect these reputations of such strict virtue, which often conceal the gallantries of women and the scoundrelism of men.”
”You dare to say this, madame?”
”Since the commencement of our conversation, I do not know wherefore, I doubted that you deserve the consideration and esteem which you enjoy.”
”Truly, madame, this doubt does honor to your perspicacity.”
”Does it not so? for this doubt is founded on nothing--on mere instinct--on inexplicable presentiments; but rarely has this boding deceived me.”
”Let us finish this conversation, madame.”
”Before we do so, know my determination. I begin by telling you, that I am convinced of the death of my poor child; but, no matter, I will pretend she is not dead; the most unlikely events are often brought about. You are at this moment in such a position that you must have many envious rivals; they will regard it as a piece of good fortune to attack you. I will furnish means to them.”
”You!”