But she was not satisfied, and at last dropped on her knees in the clay soil, and cried aloud--
"Be merciful! be noble! Save him!"
"For God's sake, stand up!"
"No, I shall not. In the dust I'll kneel to you and implore your mercy."
"But don't you see that I shall be imputing to myself a murderous design if I represent him as innocent?"
"Never mind," she sobbed. "If you really love me, you won't object to making this little sacrifice for my sake."
Then it began to dawn on him that it was not for the pleasure of seeing him she had summoned him to her side, but, in accordance with a preconceived plan, to make use of his love for her on behalf of another. And of such stuff as this the woman was made, of whom for long years he had considered himself unworthy! This was the radiant angel who had represented his ideal of purity and goodness, whose name he had held too sacred to mention in the same breath as Regina's!
And Regina, the dishonoured, the outcast! What worlds she seemed now above this sly virtue!
A wild laugh burst from him. "Why did you not tell me at once that you were in love with some one else?"
She started. "That is a slander!" she cried. "I am an honest, innocent girl!"