An idea suddenly occurred to him.
"Mary, after what I have seen, doubts are justifiable. Are you prepared to give me a proof?"
"Yes, any; name it."
"Will you go with me to France?"
"Run away with you?"
"You refuse!" he said, half drawing a pistol from his pocket.
She was bewildered. The suddenness of the proposition, and its tremendous importance staggered her.
A deep gloom concentrated on his face; the crisis had arrived, and he only awaited a word from her to blow her brains out.
With the indescribable rapidity of thought, her mind embraced the whole consequences of his offer—weighed the chances—exposed the peril of her situation with her husband, and permitted her to calculate whether, since separation seemed inevitable, there would not be an advantage in accepting Maxwell's offer. "He loves me," she said; "loves me as no one ever loved before. With him I shall be happy."
"I await your decision," he said.