"A freely given and freely received word is an oath," she said, slowly, "and who breaks it breaks his honor."
Hartmut breathed hard; keen and cruel like a lightning's flash, came a memory to his soul, the memory of that hour in which he had freely given his word--and broken it.
Adelheid von Wallmoden looked straight at Hartmut now; her face was pale, and her voice trembled as she addressed him again:
"I wish you to cease this persecution, which has been going on for weeks now. You fill me with horror--your eyes, your words, your manner. I feel that everything which emanates from you is false, and no one can love that which is false."
"Ada." There was a tone of passionate entreaty in his voice, but hers had gained in steadfastness now, and she continued earnestly:
"And you do not love me. I have seen for some time that your pursuance of me was from hate, not love. You and your kind have not the capacity for loving."
Rojanow was silent from surprise. Who had taught her to read him so nearly aright?
He had not even acknowledged to himself how closely the love and hate were united in his breast.
"And you say this to the author of Arivana?" he exclaimed with bitterness. "My drama has been called the ode to love, and--"
"Then those who so named it have been deceived by the flimsy veil of oriental legend in which your figures are enveloped, they have seen the Eastern priest with the woman he loves succumb to an iron, inhuman law. Perhaps you are a great poet, perhaps you will astonish the world with your fame, but to me you are something else, for the passion and fiery language of 'Arivana' have taught me something of its creator; of the man who believes in nothing, to whom nothing in the world is holy, neither duty nor pledge, neither manly honor nor womanly virtue; who would drag the highest in the dust for the sport of his passion. I yet believe in duty and honor, believe in myself, and with this belief I bid defiance to the fate which you so triumphantly prophesy will enthrall me. It can drive me to death--but never into your arms."
She stood opposite him, neither trembling nor irresolute. All her secret struggles were over, and with each word one more link of the chain was loosened.