They close the tale very appropriately. I wish I did
not love you so--I would not wait for your answer."
"Do you dare to say you love me?"
"Yes--though there is no other man alive who would dare so much,
who would dare to love such a woman as you are--for very shame."
"And I tell you," answered Corona in ringing tones, "that,
although I can prove to you that every word you say against me is
an abominable calumny, so that you shall see how basely you have
insulted an innocent woman, yet I shall never love you again--
never, never. A man who can believe such things, who can speak
such things, is worthy of no woman's love and shall not have mine.
And yet you shall hear me tell the truth, that you may know what
you have done. You say I have wrecked your life and destroyed your
happiness. You have done it for yourself. As there is a God in
Heaven--"
"Do not blaspheme," said Giovanni, contemptuously. "I will hear
your story."
"Before God, this thing is a lie!" cried Corona, standing at her
full height, her eyes flashing with just indignation. Then
lowering her voice, she continued speaking rapidly but distinctly.
"Gouache loves Faustina, and she loves him. When he left this
house that night she followed him out into the street.
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