"
"Stop!" she cried. Obediently I stopped, my hand already upon the
doorknob. "You are cruel, monsieur!" she complained.
"I love you," said I, by way of explaining it. "To be cruel seems
to be the way of love. You have been cruel to me."
"Would you - would you take what is not freely given?"
"I have the hope that when you see that you must give, you will
give freely."
"If - if I make you this promise--"
"Yes?" I was growing white with eagerness.
"You will fulfil your part of the bargain?"
"It is a habit of mine, mademoiselle - as witnesses the case of
Chatellerault." She shivered at the mention of his name. It
reminded her of precisely such another bargain that three nights
ago she had made. Precisely, did I say? Well, not quite precisely.
"I - I promise to marry you, then," said she in a choking voice,
"whenever you choose, after my father shall have been set at liberty."
I bowed. "I shall start at once," said I.
And perhaps out of shame, perhaps out of - who shall say what
sentiments? - I turned without another word and left her.
CHAPTER XX
THE "BRAVI" AT BLAGNAC
I was glad to be in the open once more - glad of the movement, as I
rode at the head of my brave company along the bank of the Garonne
and in the shade of the golden, autumn-tinted trees.
I was in a measure angry with myself that I had driven such a bargain
with Roxalanne, in a measure angry with her that she had forced me
to it by her obstinacy.
Pages:
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266