Page:Idalia, by 'Ouida' volume 3.djvu/312

Rh bearable than that action from her hand. She turned passionately on the nearest soldiers.

"Show some human mercy! Bind me there in his stead, tear me limb from limb as children tear the fire-flies; it will be rarer pastime for you to put a woman to torment! You know what manner of thing is justice? Then if you do, by every law of justice make me suffer, and spare him."

Under their drooping lids, his eyes lightened a moment with a gleam of consciousness: his instinct was still for her defence.

"Let me be. So best," he said, faintly. "It will soon end."

She was worthless—she had so declared herself; she was his traitress and another's paramour; yet the loyalty in him survived still—still, to lay his life down for her had its sweetness for him. A shrill wailing cry broke from her, like that of some creature perishing in the trough of waves or under billowy flames.

"O Christ! have you no pity? Take him down while there is breath in him, and bind me there in his stead. I will never bid you spare me one pang!"

They looked doubtfully at their chief: he signed them to obey her.