ence. That is what I intend to do, and nothing
shall stop me!"

If M. Verduret had not held Prosper with a vice-like grip, he would have
escaped, and carried out his threat.

"If you make any noise, Prosper, or raise an alarm, all your hopes are
ruined."

"I have no hopes now."

"Raoul, put on his guard, will escape us, and you will remain dishonored
forever."

"What difference is it to me?"

"It makes a great difference to me. I have sworn to prove your
innocence. A man of your age can easily find a wife, but can never
restore lustre to a tarnished name. Let nothing interfere with the
establishing of your innocence."

Genuine passion is uninfluenced by surrounding circumstances. M.
Verduret and Prosper stood foot-deep in mud, wet to the skin, the rain
pouring down on their heads, and yet seemed in no hurry to end their
dispute.

"I will be avenged," repeated Prosper with the persistency of a fixed
idea, "I will avenge myself."

"Well, avenge yourself like a man, and not like a child!" said M.
Verduret angrily.

"Monsieur!"

"Yes, I repeat it, like a child. What will you do after you get into
the house? Have you any arms? No. You rush upon Raoul, and a struggle
ensues; while you two are fighting, Madeleine jumps in her carriage, and
drives off. What then? Which is the stronger, you or Raoul?"

Overcome by the sense of his powerlessness, Prosper was silent.

"And arms would be of no use," continued M. Verduret: "it is fortunate
you have none with you, for it would be very foolish to shoot a man whom
you can send to the galleys."

"What must I do?"

"Wait. Vengeance is a delicious fruit, that must ripen in order that we
may fully enjoy it."

Prosper was unsettled in his resolution; M. Verduret seeing this brought
forth his last and strongest argument.

"How do we know," he said, "that Mlle. Madeleine is here on her own
account? Did we not come to the conclusion that she was sacrificing
herself for the benefit of someone else? That superior will which
compelled her to banish you may have constrained this step to-night."

That which coincides with our secret wishes is always eagerly welcomed.
This supposition, apparently improbable, struck Prosper as possibly
true.

"That might be the case," he murmured, "who knows?"

"I would soon know," said M. Verduret, "if I could see them together in
that room."

"Will you promise me, monsieur, to tell me the exact truth, all that you
see and hear, no mat