Then breaks the contract—and returns the pledge.
The man whom Julia Webber addressed by the French appellation2, Monsieur, returned that evening, true to his word. He was received with smiles by the mistress of the house, who told him, in all sincerity3, of Stella's still unconscious condition, and urged him to wait a little before presenting himself to the bewildered girl. Steeped in the ways of evil and deceit as he was, still he discovered no treachery in Julia Webber's words, and departed somewhat reluctantly, but in perfect faith as to his ultimate success.
Julia Webber's desire for revenge was being fulfilled almost upon the hour of its conception.
It was now nearly noon of the day following Stella's entrance to her house, and yet the fascination4 of her new guest's presence was still strong upon her. She had decided5 upon her course of action during that period of outward calm and inward perturbation, while she stood beside the sleeper's unconscious form.
The silver clock in her private dressing-room was still tinkling6 the hour of noon when a maid entered and handed her a large parcel which had just arrived.
"Wait a moment, Jennie," her mistress said, and the extremely attractive maid, nothing loth to view the contents of the box, waited while the wrappings were removed and the magnificent robe of crimson7 velvet8 held admiringly to the light.
"Ask the young ladies to come in," was the next extraordinary command, and while she donned the exquisite9 garment, some seven or eight young women, strikingly beautiful in face and figure, filed noisily into the room, and threw themselves in graceful10, negligent11 positions, upon the numerous couches and divans12.
The robe was beautiful, and fitted her [Pg 87]voluptuous form to perfection. After it had been duly admired and removed, the enthusiastic young women were horrified13 to see Julia Webber hold it from her at arms length while she lighted in succession a half dozen waxen matches and applied14 them in spots to the costly15 fabric16. The velvet writhed17 and twisted, beneath the flame-like human flesh, whilst almost suffocating18 fumes19 pervaded20 every inch of the apartment. She held it thus in her hands, until it was completely ruined, leaving only enough uninjured, to show the original shape and beauty, then refolding it as best she could, she tied the wrappings again with her own hands and writing in large, clear letters across the package, "The Pledge of a Broken Contract," ordered her maid to return it at once, to Captain Carlisle, Hotel Victoria. Then she dismissed the wondering women and went once more to the room that had become so strangely interesting.
A moment later she stood beside the couch holding in her hand a cluster of delicious grapes, while Stella listened and ate with the expression of bewilderment gradually fading from her features.
"I wish you would tell me of yourself, freely[Pg 88] and unreservedly," Julia Webber said, and Stella, realizing at last some degree of truth regarding this woman and her surroundings, was clever enough to know that innocence21 and helplessness were by far the best weapons with which to fight her cause.
In treachery and deceit, Stella was little versed22, but as an intelligent and observing member of society, she knew only too well that they existed, and feeling altogether unequal to such a combat, she chose ignorance as the surest safeguard from further trouble.
It was Julia Webber's request, that she would not ask to leave this particular apartment, that first opened her eyes to the nature of her surroundings. She shuddered23 involuntarily as the knowledge forced itself upon her, but she noted24, sadly, that in spite of that promise, the key was softly turned on the outside whenever her hostess left the room.
After a little thought, Stella concluded to tell her name, and the circumstances of her abduction as nearly as she could recall them, but it was only when she identified her abductor as Maurice [Pg 89]Sinclair, and mentioned her relations towards himself and his lovely mother, that Julia Webber's face in any way betrayed her interest in the narrative25.
"You say that you reside in this Maurice Sinclair's home," she repeated, excitedly.
"Yes," Stella answered.
"And he will inherit great wealth, unless you stand between him and his mother's affection, I infer," she continued more quietly.
"Ah, I had not thought of that," exclaimed Stella suddenly. "You must be right, that only could have been his motive26 for this awful deed. But I fear, so great is her love for me, that his plans will fail, unless I am safely restored to her."
"You shall return in safety," was the decided answer, while her listener's eyes blazed with the excitement of a new ambition. Here was her chance, and almost instantly her mode of action was decided. She had become sick and weary of her sinful life ever since that strange infatuation sprang up within her heart, and for one man's honest love, she would gladly have forsworn the admiration27 and homage28 of the world, but too late, she realized that man would never credit such as[Pg 90] she, with honest love, and the scorn her tender sentiments evoked29, filled her whole soul with bitterness and longing30 for revenge.
Now, through Stella's innocent and unsuspecting friendship, she felt the way was open for a more subtle and satisfying vengeance31, and subduing32 her excitement with marvelous control, she continued seriously, "Miss Sinclair, the subject of my life and surroundings is not one that I should broach33 to you, but you have given me your confidence in a measure, and, believe me, you shall never regret it. Now it may be a bold thing for me to do, but I am going to ask you a question, and upon your answer will depend much more than you imagine. Have I your permission?"
"Certainly," was Stella's wondering reply.
"I wish to ask, Miss Sinclair, if I were to leave this place; abandon the life that I have led for ten years past and obey in future every regulation and restriction34 of respectable society, would you call me your friend and allow me to visit you at your home?"
For a moment only, Stella hesitated, then holding out her hand to this extraordinary woman, she[Pg 91] responded sincerely, "forgive me for thinking of myself, but come with me from this terrible place and so long as your conscience can honestly claim my sisterly regard, it shall be yours."
The tears trembled on her long, dark lashes35 as she raised her eyes to Julia's face, but at that instant a rap sounded on the outer door and without replying, her companion rose and passed swiftly out into the hall.
The man whom she had known for several months only as "Monsieur" was standing36 in the wide, crimson draped hall, but the hangings were so thick that it was impossible to have overheard the conversation that had been carried on in low tones between the two.
Placing her hand upon his arm, Julia Webber led him without a word into the spacious37 parlor38 which was also draped, even more luxuriously39 than the other apartments, in costly fabrics40 of vivid scarlet41.
Here she paused before him, looking into his eyes with orbs42 that blazed with anger, and through her tight drawn43 lips she fairly hissed44 the words, "Maurice Sinclair, your adopted sister has told[Pg 92] me all. This is my house and beneath its roof you and she will never meet again."
Then, while he stood apparently45 amused at this new freak of a peculiar46 woman, she moved to a dainty desk, and filling out a check for many thousand pounds, signed it, and once more stepping before him, thrust it into his hand, saying calmly, "there is the amount which I have received from you. Now, go! and believe me, if you escape punishment at all other hands for your cowardly sins, the revenge of a woman's scorned devotion will at some time find you out."
Then, before he could utter a word of protest or amazement47, he was left alone in the fiery48 glow of the blood-red parlor. He looked mechanically at the paper in his hand, tore it in half, and dropping it upon the rug at his feet, turned like one in a trance, and slowly left the house.
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1
tempts
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| v.引诱或怂恿（某人）干不正当的事( tempt的第三人称单数 )；使想要 | |
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appellation
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| n.名称，称呼 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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tinkling
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| n.丁当作响声 | |
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7
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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8
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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negligent
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| adj.疏忽的；玩忽的；粗心大意的 | |
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divans
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| n.（可作床用的）矮沙发( divan的名词复数 )；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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16
fabric
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| n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织 | |
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writhed
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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suffocating
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| a.使人窒息的 | |
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fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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versed
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| adj. 精通，熟练 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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24
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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evoked
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| [医]诱发的 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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32
subduing
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| 征服( subdue的现在分词 )； 克制； 制服； 色变暗 | |
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33
broach
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| v.开瓶，提出(题目) | |
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34
restriction
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| n.限制，约束 | |
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35
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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36
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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37
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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38
parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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39
luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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40
fabrics
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| 织物( fabric的名词复数 )； 布； 构造； （建筑物的）结构（如墙、地面、屋顶）：质地 | |
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41
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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42
orbs
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| abbr.off-reservation boarding school 在校寄宿学校n.球，天体，圆形物( orb的名词复数 ) | |
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43
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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44
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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45
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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46
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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47
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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48
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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