Page:A strange, sad comedy (IA strangesadcomedy00seawiala).pdf/224

212 "Never," answered Mr. Romaine, looking up, with an unquenchable determination in his eyes.

"Very well, then," answered Madame de Fonblanque, quietly; "you know I am a very determined woman. I came here to see for myself what your condition is. I shall go away to instruct my lawyers to bring suit against you immediately. I may not get one hundred thousand francs in money—but I will get a hundred thousand francs' worth of revenge."

"It seems to me," presently said Mr. Romaine, with a cynical smile on his face, "your revenge will be two-edged."

"So is nearly all revenge. It's a very ignoble thing to avenge one's self—few people can do it without sharing in the ignominy. But I weighed the matter well before I made up my mind. French newspapers take but little notice of what goes on outside of Paris. I have influence enough to silence those that would say anything about it—and I care not a sou for anybody or anything in this country or England. I shall go back to Paris and say it was another Madame de Fonblanque."

Madame de Fonblanque, following Mr. Ro-