"The question now is, not what has been, but what is; ... and whether you detest me or not is of no consequence. As I am here, I feel that I have the right to put a few questions to you. You certainly must answer them, for I stand before you as your husband's friend."
She smiled up at him, resigned to her fate. "Ask what you like," she whispered.
"Is it true what the gossip of the neighbourhood reports--that you--that you are deceiving Ulrich?"
Simply and quietly, without taking her veiled eyes from his face, she replied, "Yes!"
It seemed to him almost as if the masonry of the pedestal against which she leaned was going to fall on her. He was furious and disgusted, and pointing his outstretched fingers at her, he called her name in a choked voice.
With her perpetual smile, she folded her hands and said--
"I deceive him every day and every hour, Leo. My life is a disgraceful sham. Ulrich at my side is in hell."
"Who is the scoundrel?" he asked, grinding his teeth. "Tell me his name? You shall not go away from here alive, unless you tell me his name."
"Well, why shouldn't I tell you," she answered, with the same mysterious smile. "His name is Leo Sellenthin."
He fell back against the wall of the temple with a deep sigh of relief. After all she was only acting. Thank God! Thank God!