She could not, however, prevent herself from continuing it, she had never been so interested in her life.
"No--I cannot do that--there is an archangel standing between." At this moment Mrs.Howard's other neighbor claimed her attention; he was a man to whom she had been talking at tea, and who was already filled with admiration for her.
Michael had time for breathing space, and to consider whether the course he was pursuing was wisdom or not.

That it was madly exciting, he knew--but where was it leading to?
What did she mean?
Did she feel at all?
or was she one of the clever coquettes of her nation, a more refined Daisy Van der Horn--just going to lead him on into showing his emotion for her, and then going to punish and humiliate him?
He must put a firmer guard over himself, for propinquity and the night were exciting influence, and the cruel fact remained that it was too late in any case.
Henry's words this afternoon had cast the die forever; he--Michael--could not for any personal happiness be so hideously cruel to his old friend.

Better put a bullet through his own brain than that.
Whatever should develop on this night, and he meant to continue the conversation as it should seem best to him, and if she fenced too daringly with him to take the button off the foils--but whatever should come of it it should not be allowed to alter his intention of to-morrow instructing his lawyers in Edinburgh to begin divorce proceedings at once.

He was like a gambler who has lost his last stake, and who still means to take what joy of life he can before the black to-morrow dawns.
So, in the ten minutes or so while Sabine had turned from him, he laid his plans.

He would see how much he could make her feel.