"Oh, they amounted to nothing compared to this—just nothing. Idling away time, spending money. I—I don't remember! There was something, but I took no heed. This one thing drove the rest out of my mind. Now will you answer me?"
"Answer me a question first."
"Oh, what is it? Be quick! Have I not told you that I cannot breathe?"
"What do you care about the matter?"
"What do I care?" repeated the girl, aghast.
"Yes; why should you?"
The same love of cruelty that made this man behead thistles with his cane and set dogs to tear each other, influenced him now. He revelled in the young creature's anguish, and, being an epicure in malice, sought to prolong it.
How could the girl answer, with so much stormy surprise choking back her utterance? This man, who had spent so much time with her, who had flattered her as if she had been a goddess, whose very presence had made her the happiest creature on earth, was looking quietly in her stormy face, and asking why she should care if he were pledged to marry another!
She could not speak, but looked at him in blank dismay, her great black eyes wildly open, her lips quivering in their whiteness.
"You ask me that?" she said, at length, in a low, hoarse voice—"you dare to ask me that, after—after—"