Mezzoni the Brigand — page 86: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

wate MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. As he spoke he stepped immediately before her. She was a timid woman, and at once was almost frightened out of her senses. What could she do? What excuse offer for her shameful conduct? She had never seen her husband look so fierce and so much in earnest before. His angry words and ex- pression drove all reason out of her mind. She would do anything to purchase her safety for the moment. “Will you tell me the truth?” “T will, I will,’’ she almost screamed, and fell upon her knees. ‘ “Are you guilty with that man”’ ‘‘As L hope for heaven, no.’’ ‘Why were you there then?” ‘‘He enticed me to come, but——’’ she stammered, and could hardly finish the lie. ‘But you did not yield to his allurements. Is that what you would say?’’ “Tt is,’ she replied; ‘‘and in the name of Heaven I swear there is no guilt between us.”’ ‘“Wnough,” said the count, replacing the pistol in his pocket. ‘‘I believe you.”’ ‘“‘And forgive me?”’ ‘Wor the first step, yes.”’ ‘It shall be the last,’’ she said, earnestly, rising from her humble position. “T will trust so,’’ said the count, deliberately. ‘But as for that smooth-faced gamester, that duel- ist, he shall give an account of himself, and be met with the weapon he is so fond of using ?”’ “Vou would not fight him?’’ ‘““We shall see.’’ The trembling wife, who had lied so shamefully to comicbooks.co