, had
changed suddenly into a furious, passionate anger. He shook with the
violence of his emotions, and though she was used to his stormy,
impetuous nature, she was frightened.

"Friends! A curse upon such folly! Is it for friendship's sake that I
have followed you here at the risk of my life, just to breathe the same
air, to look but now and then into your face? Ah! Adrienne! Adrienne!
listen once more to me. Do you think that he can love as I do? Never!
never! I know that sluggish English temperament. Their wives are their
servants or their dolls. Their passion is the passion of animals, and
they have not even constancy."

She held out her hand. He had destroyed her pity. Henceforth he was
obnoxious to her.

"Leave me," she commanded. "You are talking of what you do not
understand. You are insulting me. I detest you!"

"Detest me!" he laughed hysterically, and the fire in his eyes grew
brighter. "Since when? Since this cursed Englishman whispered his lies
into your ears and stole you from me. Nay, do not shake your head. Mine
you would have been some day, as surely as now you have made my life a
hell. My love would have conquered in the end. It would have worn away
your coldness and your resistance drop by drop. Mother of God! it shall
conquer! Do I come of a race who are content to stand calmly by and see
the woman they love stolen away by strangers? No!"

He stopped short, and there was a strange look in his face. Adrienne saw
it, and trembled.

"Leonardo," she said, "I call a man who cannot bear a disappointment a
coward. I do not love you; and under no circumstances whatever would it
have been possible for me ever to have married you. Never! never!"

He turned on his heel and walked away.

"We shall see!" he said. "_Au revoir_, my cousin."

The emphasis in his tone, and a certain fixed look in his face chilled
her. She held up her hands, and he stayed.

"Listen!" she said, speaking slowly, and with her eyes fixed steadily
upon him. "I do not wish to think ill of you; I do not wish to think
that you could harm the man I love; but, if you did--if you did, I
say--you should taste a woman's vengeance! You think me weak, but there
are things which will fire the blood and steel the nerve of a weaker
woman than I am. Remember, Leonardo! Lift but your little finger against
Lord St. Maurice, and all ties of kindred and country are forgotten.
Those means which lie ready to my hand, I will use! I have warned you