ve me and go away with you.
Come home with me, and despair when my wife repulses with horror the
man whom she would have to follow as a dishonoured mistress.'

"'Despair yourself, Chevalier!' said the Colonel with a scornful laugh,
'when Angela turns from you with horror---from you, the miserable
wretch who has brought her to beggary--and throws herself into my arms
with eager rapture; despair yourself, when you find that the Church's
benediction unites us--that fate crowns our most eager desires. You say
I must be mad!--Ha, ha! All I wanted was to gain power of veto. I knew
of a certainty that your wife belonged to me. Ho, ho, Chevalier! Let me
tell you that your wife loves me--me--unutterably, to my certain
knowledge. Let me tell you that I am that Duvernet, the neighbour's
son, brought up with Angela, united to her in the warmest affection,
which you, with your devilish artifices, dispelled. Alas! it was not
till I had to depart on field service that Angela knew what I was to
her. I know the whole matter. It was too late then. But the dark
spirit told me that I should succeed in ruining you at play--that was
why I devoted myself to it and followed you to Genoa. And I have done
it!--come now to your wife!'

"The Chevalier stood like one annihilated, stricken by a thousand
burning lightnings. The mystery so long sealed to him was explained.
Now, for the first time, he saw the full extent of the misfortunes
which he had brought upon poor Angela.

"'My wife shall make her decision,' he said in a hollow tone, and
followed the Colonel, who stormed away.

"When they came to the house, and the Colonel seized the handle of
Angela's door, the Chevalier thrust him back, saying, 'My wife is in a
sweet sleep; would you awaken her?'

"'Ha!' said the Colonel. 'Has Angela ever been in a sweet sleep since
you brought nameless misery upon her?'

"He was about to enter the room, but the Chevalier prostrated himself
at his feet, and cried, in utter despair, 'Have some mercy! You have
made me a beggar! Leave me my wife!'

"'So lay old Vertua at _your_ feet, unfeeling monster that you were,
and could not move your stony heart. Therefore, may the vengeance of
Heaven be upon you!'

"So saying, the Colonel again turned towards Angela's room.

"The Chevalier sprang to the door, burst it open, dashed up to the bed
where his wife was lying, drew the curtains aside, cried 'Angela!
Angela!'--bent over her--took her hand--shuddered like