Benilo had listened in silent amazement. He failed to sound the drift of Theodora’s speech. The whip-lash burned on his cheek. Her sudden dejection gave him back some of his former courage.
"I believe Theodora is discovering that she once possessed a conscience," he said with a sardonic smile. "How does the violent change agree with you?" he drawled insolently, for the first time raising his eyes to hers.
She appeared not to heed the question, but nodding wearily she said:
"I am not myself to-night. Despite all which has happened, I stand here a suppliant before the man who has ruined my life. I have something else to say."
"Then I fear you have played your game and lost," he said brutally.
Theodore interrupted his speech with a gesture, and when she spoke, a shade of sadness touched her halting tones.
"Last night he came to me in my dream.—I will never forget the expression with which he regarded me. I am weary of it all,—weary unto death."
"Unfortunately our wager does not concern itself with sleep-walking—though it seems your only chance of luring your over-scrupulous mate to your bower."
"Surely, you do not mean to hold me to the wager?"
"Considering the risk I run in this affair—why not? Eckhardt is a man of action—so is Benilo,—who has performed the rare miracle of compelling the grave to return to his arms Ginevra, a queen indeed,—of her kind."
Surely some extraordinary change had taken place in the bosom of the woman before him. She received the thrust without parrying it.
"I see," he continued after a brief pause, "Eckhardt proves too mighty a rock, even for Theodora to move!"
"His will is strong—but all night in his lonely cell he called Ginevra’s name."
"You are well informed. Why not take the veil yourself,—since a life of serene placidity seems so suddenly to your taste?"
"And where is it written that I shall not?" she questioned, looking him full in the eye. Benilo winced. If she would but quarrel. He felt insecure in her present mood.
"Here—on the tablets of my memory, where a certain wager is recorded," he replied.
"It is you who forced me to it against my will.—I took up your gauntlet, stung by your biting ridicule, goaded by your insults to a weak and senseless folly."