The Devil: A Tragedy of the Heart and Conscience

walked over to him and touched him on t

l at your house?" he aske

e all those people were here?" Mimi

o call, and I can't understand wh

put her arms around his nec

r, please don'

arl exclaimed, trying to avoid her

t of your marriage," she said. "But now-Karl, d

, in spite of himself. He rea

; please don't cry," he s

, and her tears vanished,

y little gir

. "Now, Mimi, suppose we talk over our marriage quietly and sensibly. You m

her red woolen jacket. Then he hugge

end, after all, Mim

and Millar entered, tak

ere somewhere. Your s

rom each other, and Milla

ter your studio I find a lady disrobing. You might

burst into tears and ran out of the room. Karl watched her, and

you ver

n't men

don't let me detain you," said

it and will bring it here," Millar said

and after a few minutes

. Madam Hofmann clinging to her husband's ar

med angrily. "You don't me

o you think you are

surd; I have seen this woman every day for years; met her and her husband; we have been good friends. That's all, abso

ou have your warmth, your happiness, your joy, unspeakable joy, the most supreme joy possible to a human being, and you are too lazy to reach out

ughed b

epeated. "Perhaps that i

uch and sat beside him. He leaned toward Karl and spoke low and

n for some time-and as I picked up the waistcoat a sovereign dropped out from one of the pockets. It had been there no one knew how long. I picked it up, s

lled my man to help me. I grew feverish with the one thought that I must have that sovereign. Suddenly a suspicion seized me. I sprang to my feet and cried to my servant, 'You thief, you h

om his hip pocket and laid it

d a man for a found sovereign which

ed by the story, although

he said, laughing uncertain

want-we seek it breathlessly-that is human nature. You, too, will seek your found treasure once it slips through y

rom him, trying no

a found sovereig

ven you wings, that she is the warmth, the color-her glowing passion the inspiration of your work. All this you will realize when she has slipped through your fingers. You

lar picked up the delicately scented shaw

ining it around Karl's head and shoulders,

mself and caught the drape

, even, melodious voice. "Oh, what you could be t

awl, Karl start

e mad," he cried. "Do you want to ru

sneered. "Why, boy, life is only w

emanded. "Why do you hover over m

e; I a

! Do you hear? I won't," the boy cried hysterically. "I have been her good friend for year

ingers," Millar cried. "Suppose

Karl de

Millar rep

ou

triumphantly. "To-night I shall play with her as I please. Oh, what

rl cried, taking

t, at her home. You will see, when the lights are bright, when

!" Karl cri

You see a couple turn the corner with arms lovingly interlocked. Who was that? She and I-always she and I. We sit in every carriage. We go around every corner. Always she and I-always clinging to each other, always lovingly. The thought maddens

side himself and trying to shut out th

. "And her laughter grows warmer and warmer until she laugh

ut Millar, with a spring as lithe and agile as a cat, was there beside him, holding the arm with w

efore him. Karl released the revolver, and as he

an may kill a man f

xed on him, walked out, closing the door softly behind him. His departure seemed to clear the atmosphere of its oppressive burden of evil, however, and Karl ju