"Bosio!" he exclaimed in a loud voice. "The devil take his soul!"
"God will have mercy upon the soul that was lost through your deeds," said the young girl, solemnly. "Amongst you, you drove him to madness—it was not his fault. But for his soul you shall answer, as well as for your deeds—and that is much to answer for, to Heaven and to me. You neither of you have the strength to deny one word of what Bosio said—"
"He was mad!" Matilde broke in. "You are mad, too—"
"Oh no!" interrupted Veronica, with contempt. "You cannot fasten that upon me. I am not mad at all, and I will show you what it is to be sane, for I know that every word of what Bosio told Don Teodoro was true. I was foolish not to believe it at once—it almost cost my life to believe you better than you are."
"He was quite insane," muttered Gregorio, in almost imbecile repetition of what his wife had said.
Matilde made another great effort to impose her remaining strength upon the young girl.
"Whether you are mad or not, you shall not stand there accusing me of monstrous crimes!" she cried, moving a step towards Veronica, and raising her hand with a menacing gesture.
"Shall not?" repeated Veronica, proudly, and instead of retreating she advanced calmly to meet her aunt.
"Would you not rather that I accused you here, and proved you guilty and let you go free, than that I should do as much in a court of justice? You know what the end of that would be—penal servitude for you both—and unless—" she paused, for she was growing hot and she wished to speak with coolness.
"Unless?" Matilde uttered the one word scornfully, still facing her.