She knew that her vengeance had failed--that she had simply crowned Lord Arleigh's life with the love of a devoted wife.
When the duke looked up from his paper to see what was the effect of his news, he saw that the duchess had quietly fainted away, and lay with the pallor of death on her face.

He believed that the heat was the cause, and never suspected his wife's share in the story.
She recovered after a few minutes.

She did not know whether she was more glad or sorry at what she had heard.

She had said once before of herself that she was not strong enough to be thoroughly wicked--and she was right.
* * * * * A year had elapsed, and Lord Arleigh and his wife were in town for the season, and were, as a matter of course, the objects of much curiosity.
He was sitting one evening in the drawing-room of his town-house, when one of the servants told him that a lady wished to see him.

He inquired her name and was told that she declined to give it.