The chain was given to my great-grandmother by the saintly Theodosius, and rather than defile it by contact with that gift from a villain, I will throw it into the Nile!--You--you, poor, deluded judges--I cannot be wroth with you, but I pity you!--My Hiram..." and she looked at the freedman, "is an honest soul whom I shall remember with gratitude to my dying day; but as to that unrighteous son of a most righteous father, that man..." and she raised her voice, while she pointed straight at Orion's face; but the young man interrupted her with a loud: "Enough!" She tried to control herself and replied: "I will submit.

Your conscience will tell you a hundred times over what I need not say.

One last word..." She went close up to him and said in his ear: "I have been able to refrain from using my deadliest weapon against you for the sake of keeping my word.

Now you, if you are not the basest wretch living, keep yours, and save Hiram." His only reply was an assenting nod; Paula paused on the threshold and, turning to Katharina, she added: "You, child--for you are but a child--with what nameless suffering will not the son of the Mukaukas repay you for the service you have rendered him!" Then she left the room.

Her knees trembled under her as she mounted the stairs, but when she had again taken her place by the side of the hapless, crazy girl a merciful God granted her the relief of tears.