know of and which will render it difficult for me. But how can you be
jealous yet?.... Is not my frankness with regard to that liaison the
surest guarantee that it is ended? Come, do not be jealous. Listen to
what I know so well, that I felt I loved, and that my life began only on
the day when you took me in your arms. The woman you have awakened in
me, no one has known--"

"She writes well, does she not?" said Lydia, with a gleam of savage
triumph in her eyes. "Do you believe me, now?.... Do you see that we
have the same interest to-day, a common affront to avenge? And we will
avenge it.... Do you understand that you can not allow your husband to
fight a duel with my brother? You owe that to me who have given you this
weapon by which you hold him.... Threaten him with a divorce. Fortune
is with you. The law will give you your child. I repeat, you hold him
firmly. You will prevent the duel, will you not?"

"Ah! What do you think it matters to me now if they fight or not?" said
Maud. "From the moment he deceived me was I not widowed? Do not
approach me," she added, looking at Lydia with wild eyes, while a shudder
of repulsion shook her entire frame.... "Do not speak to me.... I have
as much horror of you as of him.... Let me go, let me leave here....
Even to feel myself in the same room with you fills me with horror....
Ah, what disgrace!"

She retreated to the door, fixing upon her informant a gaze which the
other sustained, notwithstanding the scorn in it, with the gloomy pride
of defiance. She went out repeating: "Ah, what disgrace!" without Lydia
having addressed her, so greatly had surprise at the unexpected result of
all her attempts paralyzed her. But the formidable creature lost no time
in regret and repentance. She paused a few moments to think. Then,