gallows, enveloped in her long flowing hair, let him speak on without interruption.

He now had a gentle and plaintive accent which contrasted sadly with the haughty harshness of his features.

“I love you. Oh! how true that is! So nothing comes of that fire which burns my heart! Alas! young girl, night and day — yes, night and day I tell you, — it is torture. Oh! I suffer too much, my poor child. ‘Tis a thing deserving of compassion, I assure you. You see that I speak gently to you. I really wish that you should no longer cherish this horror of me. — After all, if a man loves a woman, ‘tis not his fault! — Oh, my God! — What! So you will never pardon me? You will always hate me? All is over then.

It is that which renders me evil, do you see? and horrible to myself. —