Rossi made a step forward with a threatening gesture, but Roma
intervened. The Baron gripped firmly the revolver in his pocket, and
said: "Take care, sir. If a man threatens me he must be prepared for the
consequences. The lady knows what those consequences may be."
Rossi, breathing heavily, was trying to retain the mastery of himself.
"If you tell me that the lady...."
"I tell you that according to the law of nature and of reason the lady
is my wife."
"It's a lie."
"Ask her."
"And so I will."
Roma saw the look of triumph with which Rossi turned to her. The
terrible moment she had lived in fear of had come to pass. The letters
she had written to Rossi had not yet reached him, and her enemy was
telling his story before she had told hers.
What was she to do? She would have said anything at that moment and
believed herself justified before God. But even lying itself would be of
no avail. She remembered the Baron's threat and trembled. If she told
the truth her confession, coming at that moment, would be worse than
vain. If she told a lie, Rossi would insult the Baron, the Baron would
challenge Rossi, and they would fight with all the consequences the
Baron had foretold.
"Roma," said Rossi, "forgive me for putting the question, but a
falsehood like this, affecting the character of a good woman, ought to
be stopped in the slanderer's throat. Don't be afraid, dear. You know I
will believe you before anybody in the world. What the man says is a
lie, isn't it?"
Roma stood for a moment looking in a helpless way from Rossi to the
Baron, and from the Baron back to Rossi. She made an effort to speak,
but at first she could not do so. At length she said: "Can't you trust me, David?"
"Trust you? Answer me on this one point and I will trust you on all the
rest. Say the man speaks falsely, and I will stake my life on your
word."
Roma did not reply, and the Baron tried to laugh.
"If the lady can deny what I say, let her do so. If she cannot, you must
come to your own conclusions."
"Deny it, Roma! Deny it, and I will fling the man's insult in his face."
"David, if I could tell you everything...."
"Everything! It's only one thing I want to know, Roma."