His letters fed the unhappy flame; and, mind you, he sometimes deceived himself, and thought he loved her; but it was only himself he loved.

She was an invaluable lover; a faithful, disinterested friend; hers was a vile bargain; his, an excellent one, and he clung to it.
And so they went on.

She detected him in another infidelity, and reproached him bitterly; but she had no longer the strength to break with him.

Nevertheless, this time she had the sense to make a struggle.
She implored him, on her very knees, to show her a little mercy in return for all her love.

"For pity's sake, leave me!" she cried.