I trampled my nascent tenderness underfoot, and in its room I set a harshness that I did not feel--a harshness of defiance and menace.
“It can be, it will be, and, as God lives, it shall be, if you persist in your unreasonable attitude.”
“Yes, when you shall be pleased to show me the way to it by having mercy upon me. If I have sinned, I have atoned. But that is a closed question now; to reopen it were futile. Take heed of this, Roxalanne: there is one thing--one only in all France can save your father.”
“That is, monsieur?” she inquired breathlessly.
“My word against that of Saint-Eustache. My indication to His Majesty that your father's treason is not to be accepted on the accusation of Saint-Eustache. My information to the King of what I know touching this gentleman.”
“You will go, monsieur?” she implored me. “Oh, you will save him! Mon Dieu, to think of the time that we have wasted here, you and I, whilst he is being carried to the scaffold! Oh, I did not dream it was so perilous with him! I was desolated by his arrest; I thought of some months' imprisonment, perhaps. But that he should die--! Monsieur de Bardelys, you will save him! Say that you will do this for me!”
She was on her knees to me now, her arms clasping my boots, her eyes raised in entreaty--God, what entreaty!--to my own.
“Rise, mademoiselle, I beseech you,” I said, with a quiet I was far from feeling. “There is no need for this. Let us be calm. The danger to your father is not so imminent. We may have some days yet--three or four, perhaps.”
I lifted her gently and led her to a chair. I was hard put to it not to hold her supported in my arms. But I might not cull that advantage from her distress. A singular niceness, you will say, perhaps, as in your scorn you laugh at me. Perhaps you are right to laugh--yet are you not altogether right.
“You will go to Toulouse, monsieur?” she begged.
I took a turn in the room, then halting before her “Yes,” I answered, “I will go.”
The gratitude that leapt to her eyes smote me hard, for my sentence was unfinished.
“I will go,” I continued quickly, “when you shall have promised to become my wife.”
The joy passed from her face. She glanced at me a moment as if without understanding.