下载辰思小说免费APP
“Butthisisatrap！“sheexclaimed。“Whosentforyou？Whydidyoucome？“
Helookedatherinsurprise。
“Lucille！“
Hiseyeswerefullofpassionateremonstrance。Shelookednervouslyfromhimtowardsthedoor。Heinterceptedherglance。
“WhathaveIdone？“heaskedfiercely。“WhathaveIfailedtodo？
WhydoyoulookasthoughIhadforcedmyselfuponyou？Haven’tI
theright？Don’tyouwishtoseeme？“
InBrott’sfaceandtonewasallthepassionatestrenuousnessofagreatcrisis。Lucillefeltsuddenlyhelplessbeforethedirectnessofhisgaze，hisstormofquestions。Inalltheirformerintercourseithadbeenshewhobyvirtueofhersexandhisblindloveforherhadkepttheupperhand。Andnowthepositionwaschanged。Allsortsoffeebleexplanations，ofappealstohim，occurredtoherdimly，onlytoberejectedbyreasonoftheirridiculousinadequacy。
Shewassilent-abjectlysilent。
Hecamealittleclosertoher，andthestrengthofthemanwasmanifestinhisintenseself-restraint。Hiswordsweremeasured，histonequiet。Yetbothsomehowgaveevidenceofthesmoulderingfiresbeneath。
“Lucille，“hesaid，“Ifindyouhardtounderstandto-day。Youhavemademeyourslave，youcameoncemoreintomylifeatitsmostcriticalmoment，andforyoursakeIhavebetrayedagreattrust。Myconscience，myfaith，andalthoughthatcountsforlittle，mypoliticalcareer，wereinthebalanceagainstmyloveforyou。Youknowwhichconquered。AtyourbiddingIhavemademyselfthejestofeverymanwhobuysthehalfpennypaperandcallshimselfapolitician。Myfriendsheapabuseuponme，myenemiesderision。IcannotholdmypositioninthisnewCabinet。
Ihadgonetoofarforcompromise。Iwonderifyouquiteunderstandwhathashappened？“
“Oh，Ihaveheardtoomuch，“shecried。“Sparemetherest。“
Hecontinuedasthoughhehadnotheardher。
“Menwhohavebeenmyintimateassociatesformanyyears，andwhosefriendshipwasdeartome，crosstheroadtoavoid:meetingme，daybydayIambesiegedwithvisitorsandlettersfromthesufferingpeopletowhommywordhadbeenpledged，imploringmeforsomeexplanation，foronewordofdenial。Lifehasbecomeahellforme，apestilent，militanthell！Yet，Lucille，unlessyoubreakfaithwithmeImakenocomplaint。Iamcontent。“
“Iamverysorry，“shesaid。“Idonotthinkthatyouhaveproperlyunderstoodme。Ihavenevermadeyouanypromise。“
Foramomenthelostcontrolofhimself。Sheshrankbackattheblazeofindignation，halfscornful，halfincredulous，whichlituphisclear，greyeyes。
“Itisalie！“’heanswered。“Betweenyouandmeitcanbenoquestionofwords。Youwerealwaysverycarefulofyourpledges，buttherearelimitseventoyourcaution-astomyforbearance。
Awomandoesnotaskamanwhoispleadingtoherforherlovetogiveupeverythingelsehecaresforinlifewithouthopeofreward。
Itismonstrous！Ineversoughtyouunderfalsepretenses。Ineveraskedyouforyourfriendship。Iwantedyou。Itoldyousoplainly。
Youwon’tdenythatyougavemehope-encouragedme？Youcan’tevendenythatIamwithinmyrightsifIclaimnowatthisinstanttherewardformyapostasy。“
Herhandsweresuddenlylockedinhis。Shefeltherselfbeingdrawnintohisarms。Withadesperateeffortsheavoidedhisembrace。Hestillheldherleftwrist，andhisfacewasdarkwithpassion。
“Letmego！“shepleaded。
“NotI！“heanswered，withanodd，chokedlittlelaugh。“Youbelongtome。Ihavepaidtheprice。I，too，amamongstthelonglistofthosepoorfoolswhohavesoldtheirgodsandtheirhonourforawoman’skiss。ButIwillnotbeleftwhollydestitute。YoushallpaymeforwhatIhavelost。“
“Oh，youaremad！“sheanswered。“Howcouldyouhavedeceivedyourselfso？Don’tyouknowthat
