From my earliest childhood I have walked in obscurity and humiliation, in disgrace and shame, a dishonored, ignominious creature." As if crushed by her own words she sank down at his feet, and raised her clasped hands beseechingly, while her head drooped low on her breast.
Kolbielsky gazed at her with an expression of unspeakable horror, then a smile flitted over his face.
"You are speaking falsely," he cried, "you are speaking falsely out of generosity." "Oh, would to heaven it were so!" she lamented.

"No, believe me, I am telling the truth; I am not what I seem; I am not the Baroness de Simonie." "Not Baroness de Simonie?
Then who are you ?" he shrieked frantically.
"I am a paid spy of the Emperor Napoleon, and the spy Schulmeister is my father." Kolbielsky uttered a cry of fury and raised his clenched fist as if he intended to let it fall upon her head.

But he repressed his rage and turned away.

Despair and grief now overpowered him.

He tottered to a chair and, sinking into it, covered his face and wept aloud.
Leonore was still kneeling, but when she heard him sob she started up, rushed to him, and again throwing herself at his feet, she embraced his knees.
"Do not weep--curse me! Thrust me from you, but do not weep.