By Heaven! my lady, I would not
have deemed it worth the trouble to stoop for them, if I had not
seen among these trifles his heart. The heart of a man is well worth
a woman's stooping for! You have neglected that, my lady, and
therefore you lost your husband's heart. I picked it up. That is
all. Why will you make a crime of that?"
"That is enough!" cried the duchess. "It does not become me to
dispute with you; I desire only to know what gave you the courage to
come to me?"
"My lady, do you hate me only? Or do you also hate the duke your
husband?"
"She asks me whether I hate him!" cried the duchess, with a wild,
scornful laugh. "Yes, Miss Holland, yes! I hate him as ardently as I
despise you. I hate him so much that I would give my whole estate--
ay, years of my life--if I could punish him for the disgrace he has
put upon me."
"Then, my lady, we shall soon understand each other; for I too hate
him," said Miss Holland, quietly seating herself on the velvet
divan, and smiling as she observed the speechless astonishment of
the duchess.
"Yes, my lady, I hate him; and without doubt still more ardently,
still more intensely than you yourself; for I am young and fiery;
you are old, and have always managed to preserve a cool heart."
The duchess was convulsed with rage; but silently, and with an
effort, she gulped down the drop of wormwood which her wicked rival
mingled in the cup of joy which she presented to her.
Pages:
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352