"Ah, Malcolm," she answered tearfully, "I hope you, of all men, do not believe that I ever gave a thought of love to Rizzio. He was to me like my pet monkey or my favorite falcon. He was a beautiful, gentle, harmless soul. I loved him for his music. He worshipped me as did my spaniel." Still I was determined that her blandishments should not move me. "And Bothwell?" I asked. "That is past endurance from you, Malcolm," she said, beginning to weep. "You know I was brutally abducted and was forced into marriage with him. He was an outlaw, an outcast. He was an uncouth brute whom any woman would loathe. I was in his power, and I feigned acquiescence only that I might escape and achieve vengeance upon him. Tell me, Malcolm, tell me," continued Mary, placing her arms about my neck and clinging to me, "tell me, you, to whom I gave my maiden's love, you who have my woman's heart, tell me, do you believe that I could willingly have married Bothwell, even though my heart had not been filled with the image of you, who are strong, gentle, and beautiful?" You, if you are a man, may think that in my place you would have resisted the attack of this beautiful queen, but if so you think--pardon me, my friend--you are a fool. Under the spell of her magic influence I wavered in the conviction which had long since come upon me, that I had for years been her fool and her dupe. I forgot the former lessons I had learned from her perfidy. I forgot my manhood. I forgot all of good that had of late grown up in me. God help me, I forgot even Madge. "If I could only believe you, Mary," I answered, growing insane under the influence of her fascinations, "If I could only believe you." "Give me your lips, Malcolm," she whispered, "give me your lips.--Again, my Malcolm.--Ah, now you believe me." The lying logic of a wanton kiss is irresistible. I was drunk and, alas! I was convinced. When I think of that time, Samson is my only comfort--Samson and a few hundred million other fools, who like Samson and me have been wheedled, kissed, and duped into misery and ruin. I said: "I do believe you, Mary. I beg you to forgive me for having doubted you. You have been traduced and brutally misused."