I have a claim to ask
that much of you, though you may not think it!"
He turned away from her, and laughed contemptuously. She tried to
speak again, but Trudaine touched her on the arm, and gave her a
warning look.
"Signals!" exclaimed Danville; "secret signals between you!"
His eye, as he glanced suspiciously at his wife, fell on
Trudaine's gift-book, which she still held unconsciously.
"What book is that?" he asked.
"Only a play of Corneille's," answered Rose; "Louis has just made
me a present of it."
At this avowal Danville's suppressed anger burst beyond all
control.
"Give it him back!" he cried, in a voice of fury. "You shall take
no presents from him; the venom of the household spy soils
everything he touches. Give it him back!" She hesitated. "You
won't?" He tore the book from her with an oath, threw it on the
floor, and set his foot on it.
"Oh, Louis! Louis! for God's sake, remember."
Trudaine was stepping forward as the book fell to the floor. At
the same moment his sister threw her arms round him. He stopped,
turning from fiery red to ghastly pale.
"No, no, Louis!" she said, clasping him closer; "not after five
years' patience. No--no!"
He gently detached her arms.
"You are right, love. Don't be afraid; it is all over now."
Saying that, he put her from him, and in silence took up the book
from the floor.
Pages:
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181