But her Lord embraced her, red with emotion, and answered:
"I love you more, more than my life, my dear one, love you as the first day, the first hour, when you gave me the rose. Do you remember? You handed me the rose and looked at me with your beautiful eyes; the rose smelt like you, you blushed like it and all my senses were intoxicated. But now I love you even more, you are more beautiful than in your youth and my heart thanks you and blesses you for every day you have been mine."
The Lord went into his chamber, threw acid on his face to disfigure it, and said to his wife:
"I have had the misfortune to get some acid on my face, my cheeks are covered with burns, and now you cannot love me any more?"
"Oh, my bridegroom, my beloved!" faltered the old woman, kissing his hands. "You are more beautiful than any man on earth, your voice kindles my heart even today and I love you till death."
XIII
Johannes met Camilla in the street; she was with her mother, her father and Young Richmond; they stopped their carriage and talked to him in a friendly way.
Camilla clutched his arm and said:
"You didn't come to our party. We had a great time, I can tell you; we were expecting you to the very last, but you didn't come."