The life I had led now filled me with disgust and loathing; the notions I had formed seemed to me now all vicious and distorted, my cynicism shallow and unjust.
"Monsieur de Lesperon," she called softly to me, noting my silence.
I turned to her.

I set my hand lightly upon her arm; I let my gaze encounter the upward glance of her eyes--blue as forget-me-nots.
"You suffer!" she murmured, with sweet compassion.
"Worse, Roxalanne! I have sown in your heart too the seed of suffering.
Oh, I am too unworthy!" I cried out; "and when you come to discover how unworthy it will hurt you; it will sting your pride to think how kind you were to me." She smiled incredulously, in denial of my words.

"No, child; I cannot tell you." She sighed, and then before more could be said there was a sound at the door, and we started away from each other.

The Vicomte entered, and my last chance of confessing, of perhaps averting much of what followed, was lost to me..