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other in darkness? Here a woman of light, there a woman of the sewer.
Angels are necessary. Is it possible that demons are also essential? Has
the soul the wings of the bat? Does twilight fall fatally for all? Is
sin an integral and inevitable part of our destiny? Must we accept evil
as part and portion of our whole? Do we inherit sin as a debt? What
awful subjects for thought!
Yet a voice tells us that weakness is a crime. Gwynplaine's feelings are
not to be described. The flesh, life, terror, lust, an overwhelming
intoxication of spirit, and all the shame possible to pride. Was he
about to succumb?
She repeated, "I love you!" and flung her frenzied arms around him.
Gwynplaine panted.
Suddenly close at hand there rang, clear and distinct, a little bell. It
was the little bell inside the wall. The duchess, turning her head,
said,--
"
What does she want of me?"
Quickly, with the noise of a spring door, the silver panel, with the
golden crown chased on it, opened. A compartment of a shaft, lined with
royal blue velvet, appeared, and on a golden salver a letter. The
letter, broad and weighty, was placed so as to exhibit the seal, which
was a large impression in red wax. The bell continued to tinkle. The
open panel almost touched the couch where the duchess and Gwynplaine
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