Then her fancied passion died out beneath his threats and blazing eyes, and she turned and taunted him with his inability to carry out his intentions.
‘You will have my life? What are you thinking of, to talk in so absurd a manner? Do you forget where you are? Are you aware that you will be brought up for trial to-morrow morning, and that if I give the Governor one hint of this conversation, sunset will see your execution. How will you be able to carry out your threats against me then?’
‘And so this is the woman who will never know another happy moment without my forgiveness!’ he returned sarcastically,—‘who can calmly contemplate my possible execution as the means of her own deliverance, and hint that she may expedite it! I thank you, madam, for showing me your true nature so openly, else I might have been weak enough, in these last moments, to believe you had really preserved some little feeling for the man who should have been your husband. But I have a word to say to you in return. I shall not die to-morrow—I shall live until I have the weapon in my hand wherewith to strike you down. And then I shall not care how soon I go too. But in hell, Maraquita—even in hell—I shall be beside you, to haunt you with the treachery which sent us both there?’
‘Oh, have pity!—have pity on me!’ she cried, upon her knees.
‘I have no pity,’ he answered, in a low voice; ‘and I shall have none. You have left me only one feeling with regard to you,—determination to carry out my revenge. When I think of it, I feel as if I had the strength of ten thousand devils in me, and could tear these walls asunder with my bare hands, and set myself free, only to be revenged on you.’
‘Time’s up,’ called the warder from outside the door.
‘Henri, will you not speak one word to me?—give me one look before I go?’ wailed Maraquita.
He advanced upon her with the eyes of a demoniac.
‘Speak to you? Look at you?’ he exclaimed. ‘What have I to say to you that I have not already said? Leave this cell, as you value a few more days’ existence, or I shall tear you to pieces where you stand.’
And at the sight of his uplifted hands and glowering eyes, Maraquita gave a low cry, and hastened through the open doorway.