The evil passion of revenge momentarily possessed him, at the thought that this woman who had so often mocked him in her heart as an easy dupe, had, at last, come here to taste the bitterness of humiliation herself, in order to escape the fate he had commanded. He wished to enjoy this reversal of the rôles, and, in an ugly mood, turned his back on her, walked over to the couch, and flung himself into a sweater. She watched him, without moving, until he had returned and faced her, and, from the cruelty in his eyes and the smile over his lips, she comprehended how hopeless was her mission. An inspiration came to her. She said rapidly:
“Wait until you understand why I have come.”
“Why have you come?” he said, smiling, expectant of the lie.
She was able to shudder, counterfeiting a physical repulsion so finely that he was half-deceived.
“First, to tell you that I will not accept a cent of that money from you. I may be everything—but I am not—that!” she said, looking down to avoid his eyes. “You can make me marry Bowden, but, if you do, I shall never touch a cent of your money.”
“So you have made up your mind to marry him?”
“If you insist, I have no choice,” she said, without resistance.
He thought:
“H’m, this is the first stage.” Aloud, he said, “My dear Louise, if you do not marry him, you admit that you are a——” He hesitated, in his disgust before the word to characterize her action.
“I admit it all,” she said.