"And you repent it? Bah! it is too late. Be satisfied. You will be
rich, a great lady, respected--"
She made a gesture of dissent.
"Yes; respected. Great ladies always are. You can marry again--whom
you please; me, for instance--"
Again the gesture: dissent mixed with unmistakable disgust.
"You are not too flattering, Cyprienne. Do not presume on my
good-nature, and remember--"
"What, pray?"
"What you owe me. I am entitled to claim my reward. You must repay me
some day."
"By marrying you?"
Her voice, as usual, began to tremble when she found herself in
antagonism with this man.
"If that be the price I ask. Why not? We ought to be happy together.
We have so much in common, so many secrets--"
"Enough of this!" she said shortly, but not bravely.
"And to be Lady Lydstone's husband would give me a certain status--a
sufficient income. I could help you to educate the boy, whom,
by-the-way, I have never seen. Yes; the notion pleases me. I will be
your second--I beg your pardon, your third husband, probably your
last."
"I must beg of you, Hippolyte, to be careful; I hear some one coming."
It was the Swiss butler, who entered rather timidly to say a gentleman
had called on important business.
"What business? Surely you have not admitted him? If so, you shall
leave my service.
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