re not blamed; why should I suffer more than they?"

"Why, why?" I echoed, fiercely. "Because for once a husband takes the
law into his own hands--for once a wronged man insists on justice--for
once he dares to punish the treachery that blackens his honor! Were
there more like me there would be fewer like you! A score of lovers!
'Tis not your fault that you had but one! I have something else to say
which concerns you. Not content with fooling two men, you tried the
same amusement on a supposed third. Ay, you wince at that! While you
thought me to be the Count Oliva--while you were betrothed to me in
that character, you wrote to Guido Ferrari in Rome. Very charming
letters! here they are," and I flung them down to her. "I have no
further use for them--I have read them all!"

She let them lie where they fell; she still crouched at my feet, and
her restless movements loosened her cloak so far that it hung back from
her shoulders, showing the jewels that flashed on her white neck and
arms like points of living light. I touched the circlet of diamonds in
her hair--I snatched it from her.

"These are mine!" I cried, "as much as this signet I wear, which was
your love-gift to Guido Ferrari, and which you afterward returned to
me, its rightful owner. These are my mother's gems--how dared you wear
them? The stones _I_ gave you are your only fitting ornaments--they are
stolen goods, filched by the blood-stained hands of the blackest
brigand in Sicily! I promised you more like them; behold them!"--and I
threw open the coffin-shaped chest containing the remainder of Carmelo
Neri's spoils. It occupied a conspicuous position near where I stood,
and I had myself arranged its interior so that the gold ornaments and
precious stones should be the first things to meet her eyes. "You see
now," I went on, "where the wealth of the supposed Count Oliva came
from. I found this treasure hidden here on the night of my
burial--little did I think then what dire need I should have for its
usage! It has served me well; it is not yet exhausted; the remainder is
at your service!"

CHAPTER XXXVII.

At these words she rose from her knees and stood upright. Making an
effort to fasten her cloak with her trembling hands, she moved
hesitatingly toward the brigand's coffin and leaned over it, looking in
with a faint light of hope as well as curiosity in her haggard face. I
watched her in vague wonderment--she had grown old so suddenly. The
peac