Part 20 (1/2)
”The inference is this. You are making love to Leonora Carantoni.”
”You shall not say that,” said Batis...o...b.., between his teeth, still looking fiercely at her.
”You might forbid a man to say it,” answered Diana, in low, calm tones.
”And for anything I care you may forbid any other woman in the world to say it. But you cannot forbid me. I have the right.”
”In that case,” said Julius, rising, and struggling to speak quietly, ”there is nothing I can do but to leave you, since I will certainly not listen.”
But Diana rose also, and laid her white hand on his arm, as though she could have bowed the strong man to the earth if she chose. She seemed taller than he in the power and determination of her gesture.
”Sit down instantly,” she said, under her breath.
Julius obeyed silently and sullenly. Then Diana resumed her seat.
”I have the right, Julius,” she continued, ”not because you pretend to have loved me for ten years,--nor because I once thought I might accept your love,--nor yet because I am sometimes weak enough to like you still, in a sisterly way. But I have the right because you are making love to my brother's wife, because she is young and innocent, and because there is not another human being in the world to stand by her, or to give her any protection in her danger.”
”If you think that, why do you not tell your brother so?”
”Do you call yourself intelligent? Do you call yourself a gentleman?”
exclaimed Diana in bitter scorn. ”Would you have me destroy the peace of my brother and of his wife, because you are doing a bad action, that has not yet borne fruit? Do you think I am afraid of you? Of you?” She repeated the word almost between her teeth.
”No,” said Batis...o...b.., under his breath, ”I do not. But I would like to ask you a question.”
”I will answer,” said Diana.
”Why did you tell that absurd story about me this afternoon? Did you not see it was just the very worst thing you could possibly do, from your own point? That nothing rouses a woman's interest like such tales?”
”I promised to answer your question,” said Diana, coldly, ”and I will. I told the story thoughtlessly, because I am a woman, and admire such things quite independently of the person who has done them. Do not flatter yourself that a woman like Leonora Carantoni will fall in love with you because you are brave. But I dare say I did wrong, and I am sorry for it. You have qualities which any one may admire, but you have others which I despise.”
”I despise them myself, sometimes,” said Julius, almost to himself.
”Despise them always,--at least, and be consistent,” answered Diana.
”But you will not. You like them, those bad qualities, and when you like them, they make a miserable wretch of you, as they do now. You know well enough, however cleverly you may deceive yourself, that you ought not to be here. You stay,--you are a coward, besides being a great many worse things which I leave you to understand.”
Batis...o...b..'s eyes flashed angrily in the starlight.
”You are cruel, Diana, and unkind,” he said.
Diana was silent a moment, and she drew her dark lace shawl about her, as though she were cold. When she spoke her voice was infinitely soft and gentle.
”Do not say that, Julius. Do not say I am ever cruel to you,--for to you, of all people in the world, I would be most kind.”
Julius bent down and pressed his hands to his temples, and sighed heavily.
”Oh, Diana,” he groaned, ”I know it, I know it.”
”Then I will not say any more. Do this thing because it is right,--not because I ask you to. Have I ever reproached you before, when you have come to me of your own accord and told me your troubles? What right have I to reproach you?”
Julius was silent. He knew in his heart that she had the right, because he still loved her best. He sat immovable, his head buried in his hands.
Diana rose and stood beside him; she lightly laid her hand upon his shoulder, allowing it to linger kindly for a moment, and then she turned and moved away.