’’You must indeed have passionately loved that woman, or you, Arthur, could never have been led to forswear your word of honor.  O Arthur, Arthur! be warned; I swear to you before heaven, that woman, with all her beauty—­a beauty that I once deemed angelic—­is possessed by devils whose name is legion; her heart is the receptacle of a monstrous, hideous crowd of vices—­vices the most opposite, there nestle together:  brazen effrontery and cringing cowardice; sordid cupidity and the most lavish, reckless prodigality.  With her, every act is the result of deep, cool calculation.  No generous impulse ever beat within her breast; and love, except for self, never yet was awakened from its deathlike torpor.  She married me because I was reputed rich; she deserted me because she deemed me ruined.  What motive impelled her to follow you to Mexico, I know not.  But of this I warn you, rest assured it is not love for you—­you perchance, may be useful to her; the necessary instrument to further some new scheme.  But remember General Ramiro’s fate, and take heed lest you be the next dupe—­the next victim.’

’I turned involuntarily toward the youthful creature beside me, as her husband’s voice ceased to ring on my ears.  Despite the mastery she exercised over her feelings, I nevertheless perceived she trembled; but who, save the Judge of all, can tell whether it arose from fear, rage, or the first emotion of repentance.

‘’Mr. Percival,’ replied my neighbor, in a constrained voice, ’this interview, after the violence which commenced it, must naturally be most painful to me, and I presume equally so to you.  Allow me, in as few words as possible, to bring it to a close.  I own that I was wrong in pledging my word of honor to what was not wholly true.  Until you claimed Adele here this night, as your wife, I had for months supposed you had abandoned all title to the name of husband; that you had mutually consented to a divorce, and under that impression I denied that Adele was my mistress, for in February last, I was married to her at Baton Rouge.  In presence of the proofs you possess, it were useless to deny that Adele is at this moment in this city.  I have seen her this very day, and I own that I know where she resides.  More than this, it will be useless for you to attempt to extort from me.  I refuse beforehand to answer any further interrogatory.  I can fully conceive the hatred my presence must inspire within your breast; I will not even pretend to regret it; for this hatred, springing from a sense of dishonor, will preclude the possibility of any thing save the death of one of us, terminating the appeal for satisfaction which I have already claimed.  I have done, sir, and wait your reply.’

’Some seconds elapsed ere Adele’s husband replied.  His voice had grown calmer and more restrained, and I imagined that he had recovered his self-control.

‘’Arthur,’ said he, ’I shall not challenge you, neither will I accept a challenge from you.’