“Do you know it?”

“I know that you fight a duel to-morrow,” said she, “and for your mistress, I know, too.”

“It is not true,” he exclaimed; “it is not for her.”

“What?” asked Maud, energetically.  “Was it not on her account that you went to the Rue Leopardi to provoke your rival?  For she is not even true to you, and it is justice.  Was it not on her account that you wished to enter the house, in spite of that rival’s brother-in-law, and that a dispute arose between you, followed by this challenge?  Was it not on her account, and to revenge yourself, that you returned from Poland, because you had received anonymous letters which told you all?  And to know all has not disgusted you forever with that creature?....  But if she had deigned to lie to you, she would have you still at her feet, and you dare to tell me that you love me when you have not even cared to spare me the affront of learning all that villainy—­all that baseness, all that disgrace—­through some one else?”

“Who was it?” he asked.  “Name that Judas to me, at least?”

“Do not speak thus,” interrupted Maud, bitterly; “you have lost the right....  And then do not seek too far....  I have seen Madame Maitland to-day.”

“Madame Maitland?” repeated Boleslas.  “Did Madame Maitland denounce me to you?  Did Madame Maitland write those anonymous letters?”

“She desired to be avenged,” replied Maud, adding:  “She has the right, since your mistress robbed her of her husband.”

“Well, I, too, will be avenged!” exclaimed the young man.  “I will kill that husband for her, after I have killed her brother.  I will kill them both, one after the other."....  His mobile countenance, which had just expressed the most impassioned of supplications, now expressed only hatred and rage, and the same change took place in his immoderate sensibility.  “Of what use is it to try to settle matters?” he continued.  “I see only too well all is ended between us.  Your pride and your rancor are stronger than your love.  If it had been otherwise, you would have begged me not to fight, and you would only have reproached me, as you have the right to do, I do not deny....  But from the moment that you no longer love me, woe to him whom I find in my path!  Woe to Madame Maitland and to those she loves!”

“This time at least you are sincere,” replied Maud, with renewed bitterness.  “Do you think I have not suffered sufficient humiliation?  Would you like me to supplicate you not to fight for that creature?  And do you not feel the supreme outrage which that encounter is to me?  Moreover,” she continued with tragical solemnity, “I did not summon you to have with you a conversation as sad as it is useless, but to tell you my resolution....  I hope that you will not oblige me to resort for its execution to the means which the law puts in my power?”

“I don’t deserve to be spoken to thus,” said Boleslas, haughtily.