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82 BLACK SHEEP.told you so," he continued, "andIdon't askvou how you received their professions. Iknowthe world too well, and what it brings to menand women, for any such folly. That is of thepast.The present is ours.Iask you why youhave brought me here? A woman yvho resentssuch yvords as thoseIhave spoken to you beforenow, does not give a man the chance of repeatingthem. You hayre not sent for me to tell me thatyou are insulted and outraged, to talk the cantof a hypocritical society to me.Ishould notlove you,beautiful as you are,if you yvere sucha fool."He saw that his audacity yvas not without itscharm for her; her head was raised now, and herdark eyes, looking up,met his looking doyvn, asshe listened, yvith parted lips and deep-drawnbreath." Be sure of this," he said," no man has everloy_ed you asIlove you,or been willing to stakeso much upon your love."The sinister truthwhich lurked in these yvords lent the sinisterexpression to his face again for a moment whichshe had sometimes seen in it. "How muchI