"I cannot pay too dearly for the honor of serving you," replied he, giving her a look of such ardor as made her lower her eyes.
"And my husband?" said she.
"Here is something to send him to sleep," replied the young man, taking a small phial out of his belt.
"Not for ever?" said the Countess, trembling.
The young man's reply was a gesture of horror.
"I would have challenged him to single combat, if he were not so old," he said. "But God forbid I should rescue you from him by giving him a philter."
"Forgive me," said the Countess, blushing. "I am cruelly punished for my sins. In a moment of despair I did wish to kill the Count; I feared lest you might wish the same. My grief is great that I have not yet had an opportunity of confessing that wicked thought, but I feared that he would be told of it and he would be revenged. You are ashamed of me?" she added, hurt by the young man's silence. "I deserve your blame!"
She flung the phial violently to the ground, and it broke.
"Do not come," she went on; "the Count sleeps lightly. It is my duty to await the aid of Heaven. And that is what I will do."
She rose to go.