"You go too fast, my friend," replied Mrs. Belswin, with a cold look of disapproval on her expressive face. "Do you think I will marry a coward?" "I am no coward! If a man to me dared to speak the word I would show him I am Italian. It is your eyes--your evil eyes--that make me afraid. But you will not be cruel to me again, bellissima," he added, in a caressing tone. "You have come to say, 'I love thee.'" "Listen, Stephano," said Mrs. Belswin, rising to her feet and crossing to the Italian. "I wish to tell you what he said. No! do not touch me! Wait! I saw my husband. He spoke cruelly to me; he made me leave his house--yes, turned me out like a dog!" "Cospetto!" "Ah, that stirs your blood! I see your eyes flash! Can you see me--the woman you love--treated in this manner? No! I am sure you love me too much. You are Italian! You have a strong arm and a warm heart! Is it not so?" "But what wish you, Signora?" "Kill him!" She had caught the Italian by the coat with her two hands, and her face was so close to his own that he felt her hot breath on his pale cheek. With a gesture of alarm he shrank away, and was about to speak, but she prevented him. "You are afraid of the law," she went on hurriedly. "Do not be afraid. Listen! He--that man I hate--the man who has treated me like a dog--is in a room with open windows that lead on a terrace. Go there without noise--wait in the shadow. Within all is light--without all is darkness. Draw him to the window by some trick. When his figure is in the light, shoot him with this!" Ferrari gave a gasp, for she had thrust a small revolver into his hand, upon which his fingers unconsciously closed. "I cannot do it myself," went on the temptress; "I dare not. They would find out who I was, and what I did. I bought this pistol to kill him to-night, but my heart failed me. No one will think it is you. Go! Go, if you love me, and kill him, I will be your wife--I will do what you wish--I will go where you like--only kill him! Kill him!" It was no civilised woman who was thus planning a murder in such a cold-blooded manner. It was a savage, with all the blood-thirsty instincts of a barbaric race. All the European side of this woman's nature had vanished, and the primeval lust for blood dominated her entirely. Ferrari felt this horrible truth as her face, distorted with passion, pressed close to his own, and with a cry of fear thrust her away, dropped the pistol on the floor, and covered his face with his hands. "Devil woman that you are! No!" Mrs. Belswin whirled into the centre of the room like an enraged tigress. "You won't do it?" she hissed madly. "You won't help me? I was right. You are a coward. Well, I will ask you no more--I will do it myself." She picked up the pistol lying at his feet and turned to the door, but with a cry of horror he sprang in front of her, and prevented her exit. "No, no! you are mad! You are mad! I will not let you go." "Stand away! I will go." "No, cara, think. Dio!"