'If that be all, let us ride on and join her.' And he made a
movement as if to do so.
'That will not do, M. de Cocheforet,' I said firmly, stopping him
with my hand. 'Let me beg you to be more complaisant. It is a
small thing I ask, a very small thing; but I swear to you that if
Mademoiselle does not grant it, she will repent it all her life.'
He looked at me, his face growing darker and darker.
'Fine words,' he said, with a sneer. 'Yet I fancy I understand
them.' And then with a passionate oath he broke out. 'But I
will not have it! I have not been blind, M. de Berault, and I
understand. But I will not have it. I will have no such Judas
bargain made. PARDIEU! do you think I could suffer it and show
my face again?'
'I don't know what you mean,' I said, restraining myself with
difficulty. I could have struck the fool.
'But I know what you mean,' he replied, in a tone of suppressed
rage. 'You would have her sell herself; sell herself to you to
save me. And you would have me stand by and see the thing done.
No, sir, never; never, though I go to the wheel.
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