A queer sort of fainting fit had been followed by a ghastly sense of fear. Intrigue4 had hitherto been the very air that this woman breathed. Now she was frightened, every ring of the bell sent her heart into her mouth.
She was horribly frightened. If she could only have seen her antagonist5 it would have been bearable. But she was fighting shadows. Whichever way she turned she found herself checkmated and beaten.
Somebody had found her out. It must be so, because all her plans were anticipated by the terrible antagonist who worked in the dark. Her case was much like that of a despairing criminal who takes one huge sum to conceal6 the loss of another until the inevitable7 crash comes.
"If my brain gives way now," she muttered, "if my reason plays me false now even for a day I--but I dare not think of it. Well, what do you want?"
A liveried servant looking into the darkened room murmured that Dr. Bruce had arrived. Bruce came in with his softest professional manner. He was sorry to hear that anything was wrong, he asked a great many pertinent8 questions.
"You have overdone9 yourself," he said with his cool hand on the fevered pulse. "Few men could stand the strain of your present life. You must go away at once to some very quiet place and be in the open air all day----"
Leona Lalage laughed aloud. The touch of those cool fingers thrilled her. To go away now, to abandon it all just when----. Ah, the thing was impossible. She might just as well have cast herself off Waterloo Bridge.
"Excuse me," she gasped10, "I am a little mad today. My dear boy, I cannot go away, the thing is impossible. If you could only look into my heart--but nobody can do that. Oh, Gordon, Gordon!"
Her voice sank to a thrilling whisper. Bruce touched her hand soothingly11. The mere12 contact of his fingers seemed to madden her.
"Don't do that," she said, in the same strained whisper. "If you only knew how I cared for you, how I love you. There is nothing I would not do for you! I am rich and powerful, and men who know say I am beautiful. Take me away, make me your wife, and you shall never know a moment's pain. Your good name is gone, Gordon--but what does that matter. If----"
She paused as Gordon recoiled13 from her. His eyes were full of loathing14.
"Forget this," he said, sternly. "Put it from your mind, as I shall do. It is a passing madness. My future wife would blush if she could hear you."
The woman's eyes dilated15, her bosom16 heaved. She might have been waking as from a trance. She was fighting passionately17 for the mastery of herself. It was a short, sharp fight, but it left her trembling from head to foot.
"Forget it," she said, hoarsely18. "I--I never meant a word of it. Leave me now. Send me something to soothe19 these frayed20 nerves of mine. Only leave me alone."
The door closed quietly behind Bruce. Just for a moment the lace-clad figure lay motionless on the couch. Then she rose and swept up and down the room like a tornado21. She had shown her hand, she had betrayed her secret, and the man who had her heart scorned her. She was filled with shame and rage and hate.
"I began to be sorry," she murmured. "My remorse22 spoilt my rest; I thought that all the world would turn from him, and that he would come to me, and then--Well, the dream is dispelled23, for he will never come to me now. They say that a woman who loves at forty is capable of every madness. I was mad just now. And now there is but one thing to live for, I will live for that; ah, yes, I will live for that!"
She sat down quietly for a moment with her hands locked together. That indomitable will was acting24 on the racked body. She crept upstairs before dinner white and shaky; she came down shimmering25 in white, and diamonds in her magnificent hair and corsage, smiling, brilliant, as if she had the whole world at her feet. Hetty looked at her with dazed admiration26.
"That dreadful headache has gone," the Countess cried. "I am myself again. We will dine quietly together, you and I, and go to hear Melba presently. Come, you can leave Mamie for just one night."
Leona Lalage swept into her box later on with the air of one who feels that she is the centre of all attraction. Society was charmed and gratified, distinguished27 men dropped into the box on the grand tier, and whispered their congratulations. The brilliant stream of diamonds in her hair was no brighter than the woman's eyes.
The house was fairly full on the fall of the curtain after the first act of the new opera. There was light and life and movement there. And Melba was scoring new triumphs. The curtain fell on the second act amidst a crash of applause and the waving of handkerchiefs. Leona Lelage had an artistic28 soul, and she was moved.
"Wonderful!" she cried. "Ah, to have a gift like that. To think that the human voice----"
She paused as some one entered the box. A slight dark man, almost a half caste, with black hair and glasses. He was immaculately dressed; his style was quiet, with a touch of humility29 about it.
"Countess," he said. "I kiss your hand. I have come from Paris to see you. If I could have a word with you alone----"
"Louis," the Countess cried, "ah, this is good of you! We will have a little chat in the foyer. Hetty, will you keep guard till I return."
Her smile was light and pleasant. But it faded to a white mask once she and her companion were outside the box.
"Quick," she whispered. "Quick. Has the blow fallen?"
"A blow," said the other. "That is a poor word. It is absolute destruction."
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1
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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2
prostration
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| n. 平伏, 跪倒, 疲劳 | |
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3
invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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intrigue
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| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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8
pertinent
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| adj.恰当的；贴切的；中肯的；有关的；相干的 | |
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9
overdone
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| v.做得过分( overdo的过去分词 )；太夸张；把…煮得太久；（工作等）过度 | |
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10
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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11
soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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12
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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13
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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14
loathing
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| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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15
dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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17
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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18
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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19
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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20
frayed
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| adj.磨损的v.（使布、绳等）磨损，磨破( fray的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
tornado
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| n.飓风，龙卷风 | |
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22
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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23
dispelled
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| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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25
shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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26
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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27
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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28
artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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29
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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