"You wish me to order you to be turned out?"
"I wish to end this struggle—and I declare to God that I will end it, either in my favour, or with your life. I am reckless; choose you! You think I am a fool; you are mistaken: I am no fool; nor shall you make me one. You say you love me; I hope for your sake you speak truly; if you do not, you shall not live to torture me."
"Your hand trembles."
"It is with passion, then. It is because the crisis has arrived. It is because this is the moment that must decide everything."
Her hand was still upon the bell. Her calmness puzzled and exasperated him, and when she said with a slight irony in her tone,—
"And you really talk of shooting me, to prove your love?"
He levelled the pistol at her, and shouted,—
"Ring the bell, and try me!"
"I will. But first allow me to observe, that if there is one thing more despicable than the threat you make, it is to commit the exquisitely ridiculous mistake of acting such a part as you now act. Passion might excuse the deed; nothing can efface the childish stupidity of the pretence. Mr. Maxwell, when next you get up a scene like this, at least take care that your pistol is loaded; yours has no cap!"
Having uttered this in the coldest, calmest tone imaginable, she rang the bell.