At her audacious, defiant words, so distinctly and impressively enunciated--hurled at him, as it were--Vallombreuse turned pale, and his eyes flashed ominously; a light foam gathered about the corners of his mouth, and he laid hold of the handle of his sword.

For an instant he thought of killing Isabelle himself, then and there.

If he could not have her, at least no one else should.

But he relinquished that idea almost as soon as it occurred to him, and with a hard, forced laugh said, as he sprang up and advanced impetuously towards Isabelle, who retreated before him: "Now, by all the devils in hell, I cannot help admiring you immensely in this mood.

It is a new role for you, and you are deucedly charming in it.