Cethegus rose from his seat.
"Pardon me," he said, "I will go. I knew not--that you loved the King."
A scream of anger, like that of physical pain, escaped the maiden's lips; she sprang up and grasped his arm.
"Man! who said so? I hate him! Hate him more than I ever knew I could hate!"
"Then prove it, for I do not believe it."
"I will prove it!" she cried; "he shall die!"
She threw back her head; her eyes sparkled fiercely; her dark tresses fell over her shoulders.
"She loves him," thought Cethegus; "but it matters not, for she does not know it. She is only conscious of hating him. All is well."
"He shall not live," repeated Camilla. "You shall see," she added with a wild laugh--"you shall see how I love him! What must I do?"
"Obey me in everything."