"In short, I will not do it!"
There was such a terrible look in the beautiful eyes, that he
half expected to see her spring at him like a wild cat, and bury
the dagger in his own breast. But the rule of life works by
contraries: expect a blow and you will get a kiss, look for an
embrace, and you will be startled by a kick. When the virago
spoke, her voice was calm, compared with what it had been before,
even mild.
"You refuse! Well, a willful man must have him way; and since
you are so qualmish about a little bloodletting, we must try
another plan. If I release you - for short as the time is, I can
do it - will you promise me to go direct to the king this very
night, and inform him of all you've seen and heard here?"
She looked at him with an eagerness that was almost fierce; and
in spite of her steady voice, there was something throbbing and
quivering, deadly and terrible, in her upturned face. The form
she looked at was erect and immovable, the eyes were quietly
resolved, the mouth half-pityingly, half-sadly smiling.
"Are you aware, dear lady, what the result of such a step would
be?"
"Death!" she said, coldly.
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