A sudden spirit of defiant insolence possessed her. She drew herself erect, and her level brows knitted in a dark frown.
"Sentence!" she exclaimed, imperiously. "How dare you judge me! What harm have I done? If I am beautiful, is that my fault? If men are fools, can I help it? You loved me--Guido loved me--could I prevent it? I cared nothing for him, and less for you!"
"I know it," I said, bitterly. "Love was never part of YOUR nature! Our lives were but cups of wine for your false lips to drain; once the flavor pleased you, but now--now, think you not the dregs taste somewhat cold?"
She shrunk at my glance--her head drooped, and drawing near a projecting stone in the wall, she sat down upon it, pressing one hand to her heart.
"No heart, no conscience, no memory!" I cried. "Great Heaven! that such a thing should live and call itself woman! The lowest beast of the field has more compassion for its kind! Listen: before Guido died he knew me, even as my child, neglected by you, in her last agony knew her father. She being innocent, passed in peace; but he!--imagine if you can, the wrenching torture in which he perished, knowing all! How his parted spirit must curse you!"
She raised her hands to her head and pushed away the light curls from her brow. There was a starving, hunted, almost furious look in her eyes, but she fixed them steadily on me.
"See," I went on--"here are more proofs of the truth of my story. These things were buried with me," and I threw into her lap as she sat before me the locket and chain, the card-case and purse she herself had given me. "You will no doubt recognize them. This--" and I showed her the monk's crucifix--"this was laid on my breast in the coffin. It may be useful to you--you can pray to it presently!"
She interrupted me with a gesture of her hand; she spoke as though in a dream.
"You escaped from this vault?" she said, in a low tone, looking from right to left with searching eagerness. "Tell me how--and--where?"
I laughed scornfully, guessing her thoughts.
"It matters little," I replied. "The passage I discovered is now closed and fast cemented. I have seen to that myself! No other living creature left here can escape as I did. Escape is impossible."
A stifled cry broke from her; she threw herself at my feet, letting the things I had given her as proofs of my existence fall heedlessly on the floor.