'What is your reason for refusing to marry him?' said he.
'My lord,' answered I, 'I do not feel for his lordship the passion of love.'
'Love!' cried he, with yells of laughter. 'Why this is Sympathina's silly rhodomontade. Love! There is no such passion. But mark me, Madam: soon shall you learn that there is such a passion as revenge!' And with these words he rushed out of the chamber.
Nothing could be better than my conduct on this occasion. I was delighted with it, and with the castle, and with every thing. I therefore knelt and chaunted a vesper hymn, so soft, and so solemn; while my eyes, like a magdalen's, were cast to the planets.
Adieu.
LETTER XLI
I had flung myself on the bed: my lamp was extinguished; and now sleep began to pour its opiate over me, when, (terrible to tell!) methought I heard steps stealing through my very chamber.
'She sleeps,' whispered a voice.
'Then poniard her at once,' said another.
'Remember, I must have five ducats,' said the first.