"Then break with him at once, and all will be well." "Break with him?
Are you mad?
No! Since he plays with the tools of my trade I shall fool him worse than he has me.

I will feed his passion full, tempt him, torture him, play with him, as the angler plays a fish upon his hook.

And, when his very life depends on me, then by degrees he shall see me cool, and cool, and freeze into bitter aversion.

Then he shall rue the hour he fought with the Devil against my soul, and played false with a brain and heart like mine!" "But his poor wife?
You will have pity on her ?" "His wife! Are wives' hearts the only hearts that throb, and burn, and break?
His wife must defend herself.

It is not from me that mercy can come to her, nor from her to me.