“What, not seen Elsie!” she repeated, with a look of deep disappointment. “Not seen Elsie?”
“No,” he answered again, looking at her with steady, imperturbable contempt.
“But you—you intend to see her?” asked Alice, with a sinking voice.
“Never! Never, so help me Heaven! And now listen, minion! fool! It was for the purpose of punishing her and you—of beggaring her and you, that I obtained that deed!” he exclaimed, malice, scorn, taunting triumph writhing around his lips, flashing from his eyes, and lighting up the whole dark face with a lurid demoniac fire.
Alice stared at him for an instant with a marble-like immobility of countenance, as if it were impossible for her to comprehend such black treachery.
Stretching out his arm, and pointing his finger at her, he laughed aloud.
Then the spell of amazement that checked the current of her blood was broken, and slowly from the pallid lips came the words:
“Oh, my God! I understand it all now!”
“Ha! ha! ha! do you?”
“All—all,” she continued, without withdrawing her steady gaze—“all, all. I have sold my birthright and hers, for—a kiss!”