A _calli_ she was born, and a _calli_ she'll die.'
"'Then, you love Lucas?' I asked.
"'Yes, I have loved him--as I loved you--for an instant--less than I
loved you, perhaps. But now I don't love anything, and I hate myself for
ever having loved you.'
"I cast myself at her feet, I seized her hands, I watered them with my
tears, I reminded her of all the happy moments we had spent together,
I offered to continue my brigand's life, if that would please her.
Everything, sir, everything--I offered her everything if she would only
love me again.
"She said:
"'Love you again? That's not possible! Live with you? I will not do it!'
"I was wild with fury. I drew my knife, I would have had her look
frightened, and sue for mercy--but that woman was a demon.
"I cried, 'For the last time I ask you. Will you stay with me?'
"'No! no! no!' she said, and she stamped her foot.
"Then she pulled a ring I had given her off her finger, and cast it into
the brushwood.
"I struck her twice over--I had taken Garcia's knife, because I had
broken my own. At the second thrust she fell without a sound. It seems
to me that I can still see her great black eyes staring at me.
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