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rhaps from this time forth； as you gracefully wear the tokens of disgrace by which society marks out the criminal； you may perforce learn something of the convict's sense of honour。 And then； you will love！〃
The Duchess sat listening； her meekness was unfeigned； it was no coquettish device。 When she spoke at last； it was after a silence。
〃Armand；〃 she began； 〃it seems to me that when I resisted love； I was obeying all the instincts of woman's modesty； I should not have looked for such reproaches from YOU。 I was weak； you have turned all my weaknesses against me； and made so many crimes of them。 How could you fail to understand that the curiosity of love might have carried me further than I ought to go； and that next morning I might be angry with myself； and wretched because I had gone too far？ Alas！ I sinned in ignorance。 I was as sincere in my wrongdoing； I swear to you； as in my remorse。 There was far more love for you in my severity than in my concessions。 And besides； of what do you complain？ I gave you my heart； that was not enough； you demanded； brutally； that I should give my person〃
〃Brutally？〃 repeated Montriveau。 But to himself he said； 〃If I once allow her to dispute over words； I am lost。〃
〃Yes。 You came to me as if I were one of those women。 You showed none of the respect； none of the attentions of love。 Had I not reason to reflect？ Very well； I reflected。 The unseemliness of your conduct is not inexcusable； love lay at the source of it； let me think so； and justify you to myself。Well； Armand； this evening； even while you were prophesying evil； I felt convinced that there was happiness in store for us both。 Yes； I put my faith in the noble； proud nature so often tested and proved。〃 She bent lower。 〃And I was yours wholly；〃 she murmured in his ear。 〃I felt a longing that I cannot express to give happiness to a man so violently tried by adversity。 If I must have a master； my master should be a great man。 As I felt conscious of my height； the less I cared to descend。 I felt I could trust you； I saw a whole lifetime of love； while you were pointing to death。 。 。 。 Strength and kindness always go together。 My friend； you are so strong； you will not be unkind to a helpless woman who loves you。 If I was wrong； is there no way of obtaining forgiveness？ No way of making reparation？ Repentance is the charm of love； I should like to be very charming for you。 How could I； alone among women； fail to know a woman's doubts and fears； the timidity that it is so natural to feel when you bind yourself for life； and know how easily a man snaps such ties？ The bourgeoises； with whom you compared me just now； give themselves； but they struggle first。 Very wellI struggled； but here I am！Ah！ God； he does not hear me！〃 she broke off； and wringing her hands； she cried out 〃But I love you！ I am yours！〃 and fell at Armand's feet。
〃Yours！ yours！ my one and only master！〃
Armand tried to raise her。
〃Madame； it is too late！ Antoinette cannot save the Duchesse de Langeais。 I cannot believe in either。 Today you may give yourself； tomorrow； you may refuse。 No power in earth or heaven can insure me the sweet constancy of love。 All love's pledges lay in the past； and now nothing of that past exists。〃
The light behind the curtain blazed up so brightly； that the Duchess could not help turning her head； this time she distinctly saw the three masked figures。
〃Armand；〃 she said； 〃I would not wish to think ill of you。 Why are those men there？ What are you going to do to me？〃
〃Those men will be as silent as I myself with regard to the thing which is about to be done。 Think of them simply as my hands and my heart。 One of them is a surgeon〃
〃A surgeon！ Armand； my friend； of all things； suspense is the hardest to bear。 Just speak； tell me if you wish for my life； I will give it to you； you shall not take it〃
〃Then you did not understand me？ Did I not speak just now of justice？ To put an end to your misapprehensions；〃 continued he； taking up a small steel object from the table； 〃I will now explain what I have decided with regard to you。〃
He held out a Lorraine cross； fastened to the tip of a steel rod。
〃Two of my friends at this very moment are heating another cross； made on this pattern； red…hot。 We are going to stamp it upon your forehead； here between the eyes； so that there will be no possibility of hiding the mark with diamonds； and so avoiding people's questions。 In short； you shall bear on your forehead the brand of infamy which your brothers the convicts wear on their shoulders。 The pain is a mere trifle； but I feared a nervous crisis of some kind； of resistance〃
〃Resistance？〃 she cried； clapping her hands for joy。 〃Oh no； no！ I would have the whole world here to see。 Ah； my Armand； brand her quickly； this creature of yours； brand her with your mark as a poor little trifle belonging to you。 You asked for pledges of my love； here they are all in one。 Ah！ for me there is nothing but mercy and forgiveness and eternal happiness in this revenge of yours。 When you have marked this woman with your mark； when you set your crimson brand on her； your slave in soul； you can never afterwards abandon her； you will be mine for evermore？ When you cut me off from my kind； you make yourself responsible for my happiness； or you prove yourself base； and I know that you are noble and great！ Why； when a woman loves； the brand of love is burnt into her soul by her own will。Come in； gentlemen！ come in and brand her； this Duchesse de Langeais。 She is M。 de Montriveau's forever！ Ah！ come quickly； all of you； my forehead burns hotter than your fire！〃
Armand turned his head sharply away lest he should see the Duchess kneeling； quivering with the throbbings of her heart。 He said some word； and his three friends vanished。
The women of Paris salons know how one mirror reflects another。 The Duchess； with every motive for reading the depths of Armand's heart； was all eyes； and Armand； all unsuspicious of the mirror； brushed away two tears as they fell。 Her whole future lay in those two tears。 When he turned round again to help her to rise； she was standing before him； sure of love。 Her pulses must have throbbed fast when he spoke with the firmness she had known so well how to use of old while she played with him。
〃I spare you； madame。 All that has taken place shall be as if it had never been； you may believe me。 But now； let us bid each other goodbye。 I like to think that you were sincere in your coquetries on your sofa； sincere again in this outpouring of your heart。 Good…bye。 I feel that there is no faith in you left in me。 You would torment me again； you would always be the Duchess； and But there； good…bye； we shall never understand each other。
〃Now； what do you wish？〃 he continued； taking the tone of a master of the ceremonies〃to return home； or to go back to Mme de Serizy's ball？ I have done all in my power to prevent any scandal。 Neither your servants nor anyone else can possibly know what has passed between us in the last quarter of an hour。 Your servants have no idea that you have left the ballroom； your carriage never left Mme de Serizy's courtyard； yo