Rossi made a step forward with a threatening gesture, but Roma

intervened. The Baron gripped firmly the revolver in his pocket, and

said: "Take care, sir. If a man threatens me he must be prepared for the

consequences. The lady knows what those consequences may be."

Rossi, breathing heavily, was trying to retain the mastery of himself.

"If you tell me that the lady...."

"I tell you that according to the law of nature and of reason the lady

is my wife."

"It's a lie."

"Ask her."

"And so I will."

Roma saw the look of triumph with which Rossi turned to her. The

terrible moment she had lived in fear of had come to pass. The letters

she had written to Rossi had not yet reached him, and her enemy was

telling his story before she had told hers.

What was she to do? She would have said anything at that moment and

believed herself justified before God. But even lying itself would be of

no avail. She remembered the Baron's threat and trembled. If she told

the truth her confession, coming at that moment, would be worse than

vain. If she told a lie, Rossi would insult the Baron, the Baron would

challenge Rossi, and they would fight with all the consequences the

Baron had foretold.

"Roma," said Rossi, "forgive me for putting the question, but a

falsehood like this, affecting the character of a good woman, ought to

be stopped in the slanderer's throat. Don't be afraid, dear. You know I

will believe you before anybody in the world. What the man says is a

lie, isn't it?"

Roma stood for a moment looking in a helpless way from Rossi to the

Baron, and from the Baron back to Rossi. She made an effort to speak,

but at first she could not do so. At length she said: "Can't you trust me, David?"

"Trust you? Answer me on this one point and I will trust you on all the

rest. Say the man speaks falsely, and I will stake my life on your

word."

Roma did not reply, and the Baron tried to laugh.

"If the lady can deny what I say, let her do so. If she cannot, you must

come to your own conclusions."

"Deny it, Roma! Deny it, and I will fling the man's insult in his face."

"David, if I could tell you everything...."

"Everything! It's only one thing I want to know, Roma."




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