"You mean about the child—your child—"
The ominous gleam came into Verisschenzko's eyes.
"My child—you spoke of it once before and I warned you—I never speak idly."
She got up from the table and came and flung her arms round his neck.
"Stépan, I love you—I love you! I would like to kill Amaryllis and the child—I want you—why are you so changed?"
He only laughed scornfully again, while he disengaged her arms.
"Do you know how I found out? By the perfume—the same as you told me must be that of Stanislass' mistress—on the handkerchief marked 'F.A.' The whole thing was dramatically childish. You thought to prove her husband was still alive, would stop my marriage with Amaryllis Ardayre!"
"Then you are going to marry her!"
Harietta's hazel eyes flashed fire, her face had grown distorted with passion and her cheeks burned beyond the rouge.
She appeared a most revolting sight to Stépan. He watched her with cold, critical eyes. As she put out her hands he noticed how the thumbs turned right back. How had he ever been able to touch her in the past! He shivered with disgust and degradation at the thought.