to--to--that noble and suffering woman, which can alone raise the
despicable into the tragic and make your life a worthy and a necessary
offering--not to revenge, but justice:--life for life--victim for
victim! 'Tis the old law--'tis a righteous one."

"You shall not, with your accursed coldness, thus dispose of me as you
will, and arrogate the option to smite or save! No," continued
Cesarini, stamping his foot--"no; far from seeking forbearance at your
hands--I dare and defy you! You think I have injured you--I, on the
other hand, consider that the wrong has come from yourself. But for
you, she might have loved me--have been mine. Let that pass. But for
you, at least, it is certain that I should neither have sullied my soul
with a vile sin, nor brought the brightest of human beings to the grave.
If she dies, the murder may be mine, but you were the cause--the devil
that tempted to the offence. I defy and spit upon you--I have no
softness left in me--my veins are fire--my heart thirsts for blood.
You--you--have still the privilege to see--to bless--to tend her:--and
I--I, who loved her so--who could have kissed the earth she trod
on--I--well, well, no matter--I hate you--I insult you--I call you
villain and dastard--I throw myself on the laws of honour, and I demand
that conflict you defer or deny!"

"Home, doter--home--fall on thy knees, and pray to Heaven for
pardon--make up thy dread account--repine not at the days yet thine to
wash the black spot from thy soul. For, while I speak, I foresee too
well that her days are numbered, and with her thread of life is entwined
thine own. Within twelve hours from her last moment, we shall meet
again: but now I am as ice and stone,--thou canst not move me. Her
closing life shall not be darkened by the aspect of blood--by the
thought of the sacrifice it demands. Begone, or menials shall cast thee