pale and moved to the centre of the apartment, where he stood with
folded arms and compressed lips. Presently the violence of the
tempest abated, and the pallid Brandini approached Teresa, who had
not changed her position, and had forgotten in the storm almost the
existence of her persecutor, and in a low, dogged voice, said:

"I am waiting for your reply."

With a faint shriek Teresa raised her head.

"I thought you were gone-do you wish to tempt me further?"

"Will you give the money?"

"I will not!"

"Beware! Think again!"

"You have my answer. Never, while life remains, will I give another
reply!"

Villani bent over her and whispered a word; with a wild, agonized
shriek she sprang to her feet and gazed wildly into his face and in
feeble, broken accents, exclaimed:

"O no, no, not that-it would kill me, Villani, Villani! You are not
in earnest?"

"I most certainly am, madam, and I give you just five minutes to
decide which alternative you will choose," and he drew out his watch