Colonel Le Noir saw that there was no use in further disguise. Throwing off, then, the last restraints of good breeding, he said:
"And there are still more terrible evils for a woman than to be the wife of one she 'can neither esteem nor endure!'"
Clara shook her head in proud scorn.
"There are evils to escape which such a woman would go down upon her bended knees to be made the wife of such a man."
Clara's gentle eyes flashed with indignation.
"Infamous!" she cried. "You slander all womanhood in my person!"
"The evils to which I allude are—comprised in—a life of dishonor!" hissed Le Noir through his set teeth.
"This to my father's daughter!" exclaimed Clara, growing white as death at the insult.
"Aye, my girl! It is time we understood each other. You are in my power, and I intend to coerce you to my will!"
These words, accompanied as they were by a look that left no doubt upon her mind that he would carry out his purpose to any extremity, so appalled the maiden's soul that she stood like one suddenly struck with catalepsy.