I told her the truth, as it had happened to me; and when she had heard it her brow lightened somewhat.
"Are you deceiving me? You did not leave here till after the duel had taken place?"
"Madame," I said, "I have never yet told a lie, and I would not now were it to save my life."
Her lip curled slightly as she turned to go. "Stir not from this room, then, until Don Pedro is well enough to leave the house," she said. "If I could prevent it he should never look upon your face again." She paused an instant, then added: "I will prevent it!"
"Amen to that!" I said, and I felt the blood burn warmly in my cheek.
She turned and looked at me, and I met her gaze with defiant eyes.
"Amen to that, madame!—for truly I hate him with all my heart!"
She stood still, a slow crimson rising in her pale face, and I trembled a little at my own daring. Then, to my surprise, she laughed at me.
"You think that you hate him desperately?" she exclaimed. "Silly child, it is not in thy power to hate that man as I do, as I have done for years!" and with that she went away and left me wondering.