"A liar's? I haven't any! Take the logic of the facts instead. What reason have you to believe any good of me? And what reason have I to do any to you? Why on earth should I betray my family for your benefit? Ah, don't let yourself be deceived to the end!" She sparkled up at him, her eyes suffused with mockery; but on the lashes he saw a tear.
He shook his head sadly. "I should first have to find a reason for your deceiving me."
"Why, I gave it to you long ago. I wanted to punish you—and now I've punished you enough."
"Yes, you've punished me enough," he conceded.
The tear gathered and fell down her thin cheek. "It's you who are punishing me now. I tell you I'm false to the core. Look back and see what I've done to you!"
He stood silent, with his eyes fixed on the ground. Then he took one of her hands and raised it to his lips.
"You poor, good woman!" he said gravely.
Her hand trembled as she drew it away. "You're going to her—straight from here?"
"Yes—straight from here."
"To tell her everything—to renounce your hope?"