Dragon's Teeth by Eça de Queirós

ON the following morning Jorge went for the first time in some days to the Department, but he did not remain long. In the street the presence of strangers and of acquaintances was alike irritating to him; he felt as if every one was acquainted with his shame; in the most innocent glance he thought he discovered some secret intention, and in the most friendly hand-clasp a token of sympathy. He returned home in a more morose mood and more weary of life than ever; on entering the hall he heard Luiza singing the _Mandolinata_, as in other times. She was dressing.

"How do you feel? " he asked, putting his cane in a corner.

"Better, -- much better; a little weak still."

Jorge took a few steps up and down the room.

"And you? " she asked.

"So, so," he answered, in so mournful a tone that she laid down the comb she was using, and going over to him, with her hair hanging loose around her, placed her hands caressingly on his shoulders.

"What is the matter? " she said. "There is something the matter with you. I find you so altered for some days past. You are not the same. At times you look as if you had committed some crime. What is the matter? Tell me! " And her glance sought his, which he turned away in confusion.

She embraced him, and urged him again to tell her what was the matter. She asked him to confide in his _little wife_.

He looked at her fixedly, and suddenly, as if he had just come to a decision, --

"Very well, then," he said. "I will tell you. You are well now, and you can hear it. Luiza, for the past two weeks I have lived in a hell, and I can endure it no longer! You are well now, is it not so? Well, then, what is the meaning of this? Tell me the truth. " And he held Bazilio's letter before her eyes.

"What -- is it? " she articulated, pale as death, taking the letter in her hand.

She opened the letter, saw Bazilio's handwriting, and divined everything at a glance; she looked at Jorge for a moment with the gaze of madness, extended her arms mutely, then raised her hands to her head with an uneasy gesture as if she had received a sudden wound, gave a hoarse cry, staggered and fell, first upon her knees, and then full length upon the floor.

Jorge uttered a cry, and the two servants came running in. They laid her on the bed. Jorge told Joanna to run quickly for Sebastião, and stood stupefied beside the bed, gazing at her, while Marianna loosened her mistress's dress.

Sebastião came at once. There was ether in the house, and they made her inhale it. When she opened her eyes Jorge threw himself down beside her on the bed.

"Speak, Luiza, hear me! " he cried. "I do not doubt you, no! only speak to me. What do you feel?"

At the sound of his voice a convulsive shudder ran through her, and she fainted again. Sebastião went hastily in search of Julião.

Luiza appeared sunk in a stupor, motionless and white as wax, her hands lying helplessly outside the quilt, while two tears rolled slowly down her cheeks. Shortly afterwards a carriage stopped at the door, and Julião entered, out of breath.

"She took ill suddenly, Julião. Come, she is very ill," cried Jorge, meeting him at the door.

They made her inhale more ether, and she again came to herself. Julião spoke to her while he felt her pulse.

"No, I want no one," she murmured, drawing away her hand; and she repeated impatiently, "I want no one; go away!"