'You must be mad!' he said, glaring at her. 'Cannot you see
that the man is what I tell you? Look at him! Look at him, I
say! Listen to him! Has he a word to say for himself?'
Still she did not look.
'It is late,' she replied coldly. 'And I am not very well. If
you have done, quite done--perhaps, you will leave me, Monsieur.'
'MON DIEU! he exclaimed, shrugging his shoulders, and grinding
his teeth in impotent rage. You are mad! I have told you the
truth, and you will not believe it. Well--on your head be it
then, Mademoiselle. I have no more to say! You will see.'
And with that, without more, fairly conquered by her staunchness,
he saluted her, gave the word to the sergeant, turned and went
down the path.
The sergeant went after him, the lanthorn swaying in his hand.
And we two were left alone. The frogs were croaking in the pool,
a bat flew round in circles; the house, the garden, all lay quiet
under the darkness, as on the night which I first came to it.
And would to Heaven I had never come that was the cry in my
heart. Would to Heaven I had never seen this woman, whose
nobleness and faith were a continual shame to me; a reproach
branding me every hour I stood in her presence with all vile and
hateful names.
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