They, no more than your Corsicans, listen to the evidence and ask
themselves, 'Is this good evidence or bad? Do I believe it or
disbelieve?' They begin father back, Princess--Shall I tell you how?
They look in the face of their beloved, and they say, 'Slander this,
not as you wish for belief, but only as you dare; for here my faith
is fixed beforehand.'
"And therefore, O Princess," I went on, after a pause in which we
eyed one another slowly, "therefore, I disbelieve any slander
concerning you; not merely because your brother's confessor was its
author--though that, to any rational man, should be enough--but
because I have looked in your face. Therefore also I, your husband,
forbid you to speak what would dishonour us both."
"But, cavalier--if--if it were true?"
"True?"--I let out a harsh laugh. "Take up that phial. Hold it in
your hand, so. Now look me in the face and drink--if you dare!
Look me in the face, read how I trust you, and so, if you can say the
lie to me say it--and drink!"
She lifted the phial steadily, almost to her lips, keeping her eyes
on mine--but of a sudden faltered and let it fall upon the turf:
where I, whose heart had all but stood still, crushed my heel upon it
savagely.
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