young countess understand by signs how gladly I would hear her give the
least hope, and calm his rising passion; but she seemed not to see me.

"So," he cried in a smothered tone, as if he were strangling--"so you
will look on and see your father perish? A word would restore him to
life, and you refuse to speak that one word?"

"Life is not in the hand of man, for it is God's gift; my word can be
of no avail."

"Those are nothing but pious maxims," answered the count scornfully, "to
release you from your plain duty. But has not God said, 'Honour thy
father and thy mother?'"

"I do honour you," she replied gently. "But it is my duty not to marry."

I could hear the grinding and gnashing of the man's teeth. He lay
apparently calm, but presently turned abruptly and cried--

"Leave me; the sight of you is offensive to me!"

And addressing me as I stood by agitated with conflicting feelings--

"Doctor," he cried with a savage grin, "have you any violent malignant
poison about you to give me--something that will destroy me like a
thunderbolt? It would be a mercy to poison me like a dog, rather than
let me suffer as I am doing."

His features writhed convulsively, his colour became livid.