My God, how, after this, could I do that which I had come to do?
How could I stab her in the tenderest part, how could I inflict on her that rending pang, how could I meet her eyes, and stand before her, a Caliban, a Judas, the vilest, lowest thing she could conceive?
I stood, a moment, speechless and disordered; overcome by her words, by my thoughts.

I have seen a man so stand when he has lost all at the tables.

Then I turned to her; and for an instant I thought that my tale was told already, I thought that she had pierced my disguise.

For her face was changed--stricken as with fear.

The next moment, I saw that she was not looking at me, but beyond me; and I turned quickly and saw a servant hurrying from the house to us.