The poisoning of Sauvresy explained all
Hector's conduct, his position, his fears, his promises, his lies,
his hate, his recklessness, his marriage, his flight. Still she
tried not to defend him, but to share the odium of his crimes.
"I knew it," she stammered, in a voice broken by sobs, "I knew it
all."
The old justice was in despair.
"How you love him, poor child!" murmured he.
This mournful exclamation restored to Laurence all her energy; she
made an effort and rose, her eyes glittering with indignation:
"I love him!" cried she. "I! Ah, I can explain my conduct to you,
my old friend, for you are worthy of hearing it. Yes, I did love
him, it is true--loved him to the forgetfulness of duty, to
self-abandonment. But one day he showed himself to me as he was;
I judged him, and my love did not survive my contempt. I was
ignorant of Sauvresy's horrible death. Hector confessed to me that
his life and honor were in Bertha's hands--and that she loved him.
I left him free to abandon me, to marry, thus sacrificing more than
my life to what I thought was his happiness; yet I was not deceived.
When I fled with him I once more sacrificed myself, when I saw that
it was impossible to conceal my shame.
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