Fiction > Book editions > London, 1885 - Prince Otto

A ROMANCE 229
had never heard, he leaped at her in savage
passion ; ckitched her as she recoiled ; and in
the very act, stumbled and drooped. She had
scarce time to fear his murderous onslaught ere
he fell before her feet.
He rose upon one elbow ; she still staring
upon him, white with horror.
' Anna ! ' he cried, ' Anna ! Help ! '
And then his utterance failed him, and he
fell back, to all appearance dead.
Seraj^hina ran to and fro in the room ; she
wrung her hands and cried aloud ; within she
was all one uproar of terror, and conscious of
no articulate wish but to awake.
There came a knocking at the door ; and she
sprang to it and held it, panting like a beast, and
with the strength of madness in her arms, till she
had pushed the bolt. At this success a certain
calm fell upon her reason. She went back and
looked upon her victim, the knocking growing-
louder. yes, he was dead. She had killed
Iiim. He had called upon von Eosen with his
latest breath ; ah ! who would call on Seraphina ?
She had killed him. She, whose irresolute hand
could scarce prick blood from her own bosom,
liad found strength to cast 3.0 wn that great
colossus at a blow.
All this while the knocking was growing
more uproarious and more unlike the staid