not even your love for your poor Rosa."

"It is true," said he, sadly, "I had forgotten our love. And still
it is the only excuse that I have for my second crime. I had
determined to be a good man, and to expiate my one crime throughout
my whole life. But when I saw you, your beauty fascinated me, and
you drew me on. I went with open eyes into the net which you
prepared for me, Rosa. I allowed myself to be allured by your
beauty, knowing well that it would draw me into a frightful abyss."

"Ah," said Rosa, groaning, "how cruelly you speak of our love!"

"Of our love!" repeated he, shrugging his shoulders. "Child, in this
hour we will be true to each other. Ours was no true love. You were
in love with my noble name and position--I with your youth, your
beauty, your coquettish ways. Our souls were not in unison. You gave
yourself to me, not because you loved me, but because you wished to
deceive me. I allowed myself to be deceived because of your
loveliness and because I saw the golden reward which your deceitful
love would bring me."

"You are cruel and unjust," said Rosa, sadly. "It may be true that
you never loved me, but I loved you truly. I gave you my whole
heart."

"Yes, and in giving it," said he, harshly--"in giving it you had the
presence of mind to keep the aim of your tenderness always in view.
While your arms were around me, your little hand which seemed to
rest upon my heart, sought for the key which I always kept in my
vest-pocket, and which I had lately told you belonged to the desk in