“You saw,” Helen began——
“Yes.—Am I blind, think you?—I wish I were. Oh! that I could be again the believing, fond, happy dupe I was but yesterday evening!”
“Dupe!” repeated Helen. “But pour out all—all, dear Granville. Think—say—what you will—reproach—abuse me as you please. It is a relief—take it—for I have none to give.”
“None!” cried he, his tone suddenly changing, “no relief to give!—What! have you nothing to say?—No explanation?—Why speak to me then at all?”
“To tell you so at once—to end your suspense—to tell you that I cannot explain. The midnight consultation and the morning, were not to prepare for you excuse or apology, but to decide whether I could tell you the whole; and since that cannot be, I determined not to enter into any explanation. I am glad that you do not wish to hear any.”
“Answer me one question,” said he:—“that picture-did you give it to Colonel D’Aubigny?”
“No. That is a question I can answer. No—he stole it from Cecilia’s portfolio. Ask me no more.”
“One question more—”
“No, not one more—I cannot tell you anything more.”
She was silent for a moment, he withdrew his eyes, and she went on.