“I am listening, what have you to say to me?”

“If some one should say to me:  ‘You are a coward!’ I, who am twenty-two years of age and have fought on the field of honor, would throw the taunt back in the teeth of my accuser.  Have I not within me the consciousness of what I am?  It would be necessary for me to meet my accuser on the field, and play my life against his; why?  In order to prove that I am not a coward; otherwise the world would believe it.  That single word demands that reply every time it is spoken, and it matters not by whom.”

“It is true; what is your meaning?”

“Women do not fight; but as society is constituted there is no being, of whatever sex, who ought to submit to the indignity involved in an aspersion on all his or her past life, be that life regulated as by a pendulum.  Reflect; who escapes that law?  There are some, I admit; but what happens?  If it is a man, dishonor; if it is a woman, what?  Forgiveness?  Every one who loves ought to give some evidence of life, some proof of existence.  There is, then, for woman as well as for man, a time when an attack must be resented.  If she is brave, she rises, announces that she is present and sits down again.  A stroke of the sword is not for her.  She must not only avenge herself, but she must forge her own arms.  Someone suspects her; who?  An outsider?  She may hold him in contempt—­her lover whom she loves?  If so, it is her life that is in question, and she may not despise him.”

“Her only recourse is silence.”

“You are wrong; the lover who suspects her casts an aspersion on her entire life.  I know it.  Her plea is in her tears, her past life, her devotion and her patience.  What will happen if she remains silent?  Her lover will lose her by her own act and time will justify her.  Is not that your thought?”

“Perhaps; silence before all.”

“Perhaps, you say?  Assuredly I will lose you if you do not speak; my resolution is made:  I am going away alone.”

“But, Octave—­”

“But,” I cried, “time will justify you!  Let us put an end to it; yes or no?”

“Yes, I hope so.”

“You hope so!  Will you answer me definitely?  This is doubtless the last time you will have the opportunity.  You tell me that you love me, and I believe it.  I suspect you; is it your intention to allow me to go away and rely on time to justify you?”

“Of what do you suspect me?”

“I do not choose to say, for I see that it would be useless.  But, after all, misery for misery, at your leisure; I am as well pleased.  You deceive me, you love another; that is your secret and mine.”

“Who is it?” she asked.

“Smith.”

She placed her hand on her lips and turned aside.  I could say no more; we were both pensive, our eyes fixed on the floor.

“Listen to me,” she began with an effort, “I have suffered much.  I call heaven to bear me witness that I would give my life for you.  So long as the faintest gleam of hope remains, I am ready to suffer anything; but, although I may rouse your anger in saying to you that I am a woman, I am nevertheless a woman, my friend.  We can not go beyond the limits of human endurance.  Beyond a certain point I will not answer for the consequences.  All I can do at this moment is to get down on my knees before you and beseech you not to go away.”