may restore her health, she will certainly die. I am indulging in no
exaggeration to extort alms. In this letter is the certificate of a
distinguished physician, corroborating my statement. If you, the
author of her being, prefer to hasten her death, then your choice of
an awful revenge must be settled between your hardened conscience
and your God."

"You are bold indeed, to beard me in my own house, and tell me to my
face what no man would dare to utter."

His voice was an angry pant, and he struck his clenched hand on the
table with a force that made the glasses jingle, and the sherry
dance in the decanter.

"Yes, you scarcely realize how much bravery this painful errand
demands; but the tender love in a woman's heart nerves her to bear
fiery ordeals, that vanquish a man's courage."

"Then you find that age has not drawn the fangs from the old
crippled Darrington lion, nor clipped his claws?"

The sneer curved his white mustache, until she saw the outline of
the narrow, bloodless underlip.

"That king of beasts scorns to redden his fangs, or flesh his claws,
in the quivering body of his own offspring. Your metaphor is an
insult to natural instincts."

She laid the letter once more before him, and looked down on him,
with ill-concealed aversion.