of marrying him? I have read all those books, and what can you expect of me? Not innocence, surely! I despise men,—I despise my own sex,—I loathe myself for being a woman! You wonder at my fanaticism for Mavis Clare,—it is only because for a time her books give me back my self-respect, and make me see humanity in a nobler light,—because she restores to me, if only for an hour, a kind of glimmering belief in God, so that my mind feels refreshed and cleansed. All the same, you must not look upon me as an innocent young girl, Geoffrey, a girl such as the great poets indealized and sang of. I am a contaminated creature, trained to perfection in the lax morals and prurient literature of my day."
The unholy wedding of the selfish millionaire and
Lady Sibyl Elton takes place. Prince Rimânez
acts as master of the ceremonies, and calls to his
aid a devil's own army of imps who work marvelous
musical and picturesque effects—their identification
as creatures of hell being, of course, hidden.
Even thunder and lightning are called down to add
to the remarkable scene. And so the marriage
bargain is completed. Disillusionment quickly
follows, and we find the husband and wife
mutually disgusted with one another, and on the
verge of hate. Lady Sibyl, however, finds passion
at last, passion for the husband's friend, Lucio
Rimânez, Prince of Darkness.
To such an extent does this fever of love possess
