She sprang back with a shiver of loathing, covered her face with her hands and staggered to her bed, sobbing hysterically:
"It's true—it's true—it's true! Have mercy, Lord!—it's true—it's true!" She fell face downward, her frail figure quivering like a leaf in a storm.
He rushed to her side, crying in terror:
"It's not true—it's not true, my dear! Don't believe it. I swear it's a lie—it's a lie—I tell you!"
She was crying in sobs of utter anguish.
He bent low:
"It's not true, dearest! It's not true, I tell you. You mustn't believe it. You can't believe it when I swear to you that it's a lie——"
His head gently touched her slender shoulder.
She flinched as if scorched by a flame, sprang to her feet, and faced him with blazing eyes:
"Don't—you—dare—touch—me——"