"Patience----patience!----" I muttered to myself--"This is a piece of acting doubtless----such as chanced the other night with Mavis Clare!----patience!----let us hear this----this comedy!" And, drawing myself close up against the wall, I leaned there, scarcely drawing breath, waiting for _her_ voice,--for _his_;--when they spoke I should know,----yes, I should know all! And I fastened my looks on them as they stood there,--vaguely wondering even in my tense anguish, at the fearful light on Lucio's face,--a light which could scarcely be the reflection of the moon, as he backed the window,--and at the scorn of his frowning brows. What terrific humour swayed him?--why did he, even to my stupefied thought appear more than human?--why did his very beauty seem hideous at that moment, and his aspect fiendish? Hush--hush! _She_ spoke,--my wife,--I heard her every word--heard all and endured all, without falling dead at her feet in the extremity of my dishonour and despair! "I love you!" she wailed--"Lucio, I love you, and my love is killing me! Be merciful!--have pity on my passion!--love me for one hour, one little hour!--it is not much to ask, and afterwards,--do with me what you will,--torture me, brand me an outcast in the public sight, curse me before Heaven--I care nothing--I am yours body and soul--I love you!" Her accents vibrated with mad idolatrous pleading,--I listened infuriated, but dumb. "Hush,--hush!" I told myself "This is a comedy--not yet played out!" And I waited, with every nerve strained, for Lucio's reply. It came, accompanied by a laugh, low and sarcastic. "You flatter me!" he said--"I regret I am unable to return the compliment!" My heart gave a throb of relief and fierce joy,--almost I could have joined in his ironical laughter. She--Sibyl--dragged herself nearer to him. "Lucio--Lucio!" she murmured--"Have you a heart? Can you reject me when I pray to you thus?--when I offer you all myself,--all that I am, or ever hope to be? Am I so repugnant to you? Many men would give their lives if I would say to them what I say to you,--but they are nothing to me--you alone are my world,--the breath of my existence!--ah, Lucio, can you not believe, will you not realize how deeply I love you!" He turned towards her with a sudden fierce movement that startled me,--and the cloud of scorn upon his brows grew darker.