The Descent of Man and Other Stories eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 267 pages of information about The Descent of Man and Other Stories.

The Descent of Man and Other Stories eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 267 pages of information about The Descent of Man and Other Stories.

“So he was, till circumstances obliged him to waive the privilege in your favour.”

“He does me too much honour; but if a deep sense of my unworthiness obliges me to decline—­”

“You are still,” interrupted the Count, “labouring under a misapprehension.  Your choice in the matter is no more to be consulted than the lady’s.  Not to put too fine a point on it, it is necessary that you should marry her within the hour.”

Tony, at this, for all his spirit, felt the blood run thin in his veins.  He looked in silence at the threatening visages between himself and the door, stole a side-glance at the high barred windows of the apartment, and then turned to Polixena, who had fallen sobbing at her father’s feet.

“And if I refuse?” said he.

The Count made a significant gesture.  “I am not so foolish as to threaten a man of your mettle.  But perhaps you are unaware what the consequences would be to the lady.”

Polixena, at this, struggling to her feet, addressed a few impassioned words to the Count and her father; but the latter put her aside with an obdurate gesture.

The Count turned to Tony.  “The lady herself pleads for you—­at what cost you do not guess—­but as you see it is vain.  In an hour his Illustriousness’s chaplain will be here.  Meanwhile his Illustriousness consents to leave you in the custody of your betrothed.”

He stepped back, and the other gentlemen, bowing with deep ceremony to Tony, stalked out one by one from the room.  Tony heard the key turn in the lock, and found himself alone with Polixena.

III

THE girl had sunk into a chair, her face hidden, a picture of shame and agony.  So moving was the sight that Tony once again forgot his own extremity in the view of her distress.  He went and kneeled beside her, drawing her hands from her face.

“Oh, don’t make me look at you!” she sobbed; but it was on his bosom that she hid from his gaze.  He held her there a breathing-space, as he might have clasped a weeping child; then she drew back and put him gently from her.

“What humiliation!” she lamented.

“Do you think I blame you for what has happened?”

“Alas, was it not my foolish letter that brought you to this plight?  And how nobly you defended me!  How generous it was of you not to show the letter!  If my father knew I had written to the Ambassador to save me from this dreadful marriage his anger against me would be even greater.”

“Ah—­it was that you wrote for?” cried Tony with unaccountable relief.

“Of course—­what else did you think?”

“But is it too late for the Ambassador to save you?”

“From you?” A smile flashed through her tears.  “Alas, yes.”  She drew back and hid her face again, as though overcome by a fresh wave of shame.

Tony glanced about him.  “If I could wrench a bar out of that window—­” he muttered.

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The Descent of Man and Other Stories from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.