her from the couch, and, followed by Leta, hurried her across
the room into the outer hall, into the court yard, past the fountain,
and so onward until they stood before the prison house. There, seeing
the inner door open, the outer door swinging loosely inward, with the
key yet remaining in its lock, and the captive fled, Sergius deemed her
new crime fully proved, and again turned madly upon her.

'Where is he? What have you done with him? Am I to be thus balked of my
vengeance? Is it to be endured that, while I entertain my friends, you
should steal off so treacherously, and thus complete the dishonor you
have brought upon me?'

'I have not--done dishonor--to my lord!' she gasped with difficulty, for
she was almost speechless from the rapidity with which he had hurried
her along, and his close grasp upon her arm pained her. 'Let me but
speak--I will explain--I know not how--'

'No falsehoods--no pleadings to me!' he cried. 'It will avail you
nothing now. What more proof do I need? Is not the whole story written
out plainly before my eyes? Have you not stolen away to release him,
preferring his safety and favor to my honor or your own? If not, where
is he? Escaped me, by the gods! Escaped me, after all! Fool that I have
been, to leave that key within your meddling reach!'

Overborne by his violence, not of words merely, but of gesture, AEnone
had, little by little, shrunk from before him as he spoke, until she had
unconsciously passed through the open doorway, and into the narrow
street beyond. Leta and he still remained within the building, standing
beside the swinging door. There was even now but a single pace between
AEnone and himself, and it was scarcely likely that such a trifling
distance could reassure her. It was more probably something in his tone
or action which now gave her courage to meet his imputation. Whatever
the nature of the inspiration, she now suddenly drew herself up, as
though indued with new strength, and answered him with something of the
same recklessness of spirit with which once before during that day she
had cast aside all fear of misconstruction, and, with the sustaining
consciousness of innocence and justice, had defied him.

'Escaped you?' she cried; 'I thank the gods for it! I did not set him
free, but I would have done so, had I known how. He was my friend--my
brother. Would I have left him, do you think, to suffer torture and
death for simple kindnesses to me, when, with one turn