Perhaps I had some
remnant of pity for this woman. If she had been submissive, repentant!
but, instead of submission and confusion, she exhibited greater
defiance than before. In the pale face her eyes burned like coals of
fire--and it was rage which inflamed them.
"'So you have set your spies on me!' she exclaimed, in accents of
inexpressible fury. 'You are a chivalric gentleman, truly! You are
worthy of your boasted family! You pretend to love and confide in
me--you look at me with smiles and eyes of affection--and all the time
you are laying a trap for me--endeavoring to catch me and betray me!
Well, yes, sir! yes! What you have discovered through your spies is
true. I _was_ tried and sentenced as a thief--I _was_ married when I
first saw you--and it is this miserable creature, this offscouring of
the kennels, this thief, that has become _the wife_ of the proud Mr.
Mohun--in the eyes of the world at least! I am so still--my character
is untainted--dare to expose me and have me punished, and it is _your_
proud name that will be tarnished! _your_ grand escutcheon that will be
blotted! Come! arrest me, expose me, drag me to justice! I will stand
up in open court, and point my finger at you where you stand cowering,
in the midst of jeers and laughter, and say: "There is Mr.
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