One day or another, I may be the person who tells
Miss Lockwood what has become of Ferrari, if--' She stopped;
with her eyes fixed on Agnes.
'If what?' Henry asked.
'If Miss Lockwood forces me to it.'
Agnes listened in astonishment. 'Force you to it?' she repeated.
'How can I do that? Do you mean to say my will is stronger
than yours?'
'Do you mean to say that the candle doesn't burn the moth,
when the moth flies into it?' Lady Montbarry rejoined. 'Have you
ever heard of such a thing as the fascination of terror? I am drawn
to you by a fascination of terror. I have no right to visit you,
I have no wish to visit you: you are my enemy. For the first time
in my life, against my own will, I submit to my enemy. See! I am
waiting because you told me to wait--and the fear of you (I swear it!)
creeps through me while I stand here. Oh, don't let me excite
your curiosity or your pity! Follow the example of Mr. Westwick.
Be hard and brutal and unforgiving, like him. Grant me my release.
Tell me to go.'
The frank and simple nature of Agnes could discover but one
intelligible meaning in this strange outbreak.
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