“Where is my husband?” she broke out. “Give me back my husband, Henry. Why did you stand by at midnight and see him murdered? Why did the traitor escape who did it? You, the champion of your house, who offered to die for us! You that he loved and trusted, and to whom I confided him--you that vowed devotion and gratitude, and I believed you--yes, I believed you--why are you here, and my noble Francis gone? Why did you come among us? You have only brought us grief and sorrow; and repentance, bitter, bitter repentance, as a return for our love and kindness. Did I ever do you a wrong, Henry? You were but an orphan child when I first saw you--when HE first saw you, who was so good, and noble, and trusting. He would have had you sent away, but, like a foolish woman, I besought him to let you stay. And you pretended to love us, and we believed you--and you made our house wretched, and my husband's heart went from me: and I lost him through you--I lost him--the husband of my youth, I say. I worshipped him: you know I worshipped him--and he was changed to me. He was no more my Francis of old--my dear, dear soldier. He loved me before he saw you; and I loved him. Oh, God is my witness how I loved him! Why did he not send you from among us? 'Twas only his kindness, that could refuse me nothing then. And, young as you were--yes, and weak and alone--there was evil, I knew there was evil in keeping you. I read it in your face and eyes. I saw that they boded harm to us--and it came, I knew it would. Why did you not die when you had the small-pox--and I came myself and watched you, and you didn't know me in your delirium--and you called out for me, though I was there at your side? All that has happened since, was a just judgment on my wicked heart--my wicked jealous heart. Oh, I am punished--awfully punished! My husband lies in his blood--murdered for defending me, my kind, kind, generous lord--and you were by, and you let him die, Henry!”