His vanity, within his iron bosom, bled and raved.

If he could have blotted all, if he could have withdrawn part, if he had not called her bride--with a roaring in his ears, he thus regretfully reviewed his declaration.

He got to his feet tottering; and then, in that first moment when a dumb agony finds a vent in words, and the tongue betrays the inmost and worst of a man, he permitted himself a retort which, for six weeks to follow, he was to repent at leisure.
'Ah,' said he, 'the Countess?
Now I perceive the reason of your Highness's disorder.' The lackey-like insolence of the words was driven home by a more insolent manner.

There fell upon Seraphina one of those storm-clouds which had already blackened upon her reason; she heard herself cry out; and when the cloud dispersed, flung the blood-stained dagger on the floor, and saw Gondremark reeling back with open mouth and clapping his hand upon the wound.

The next moment, with oaths that she had never heard, he leaped at her in savage passion; clutched her as she recoiled; and in the very act, stumbled and drooped.