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I rushed to the study-door, tore aside the velvet hangings, and faced Heliobas and Prince Ivan Petroffsky They held draeapons, which they lowered at my sudden entrance, and paused irresolutely
"What are you doing?" I cried, addressing myself to Heliobas "With the dead body of your sister in the house you can fight! You, too!" and I looked reproachfully at Prince Ivan; "you also can desecrate the sanctity of death, and yet--you LOVED her!"
The Prince spoke not, but clenched his sword-hilt with a fiercer grasp, and glared wildly on his opponent His eyes had a look of madness in them--his dress was hastly white, and his whole derief and passion But he uttered no word Heliobas spoke; he was coldly calhtly on his open hand as if it were a toy
"This GENTLEMAN," he said, with deliberate emphasis, "happened, on his way thither, to meet Dr Morini, who informed him of the fatal catastrophe which has causedthe sacredness of my solitude under the circumstances, he thrust himself rudely into my presence, and, before I could address hi my sister's ave him his choice of weapons: he chose swords Our coun--we are anxious to resuoodness to retire---"
I interrupted him
"I shall certainly not retire," I said firmly "This behaviour on both your parts is positive madness Prince Ivan, please to listen to me The circumstances of Zara's death were plainly witnessed bycaused it as I am"
And I recounted to hi that fatal and eventful evening He listenedout the pattern of the carpet with the point of his sword When I had finished he looked up, and a bitter smile crossed his features
"I wonder, mademoiselle," he said, "that your residence in this accursed house has not taught you better I quite believe all you say, that Zara, unfortunate girl that she was, received her death by a lightning-flash But answerated her beautiful delicate body with a vile conet, bound to draards herself electricity in all its forine herself allied to a spirit of air? Who but HE--HE!--yonder unscrupulous wretch!--he who in pursuit of his erous experiardless of her health, her happiness, her life! I say he is her murderer-- her remorseless murderer, and a thrice-damned villain!"