hat you wish, so must I. If Florimond
is ever to come to Condillac again, you must be my wife."

He leaned towards her now, supported by his elbow, so that his face was
close to hers, a deeper flush upon it, a brighter glitter in his black
eyes, his vinous breath enveloping and suffocating her. She shrank back,
her hands locking themselves one in the other till the knuckles showed
white.

"What--what is it you mean?" she faltered.

"No more than I have said; no less. If you love him well enough to
sacrifice yourself," and his lips curled sardonically at the word, "then
marry me and save him from his doom."

"What doom?" Her voice came mechanically, her lips seeming scarce to
move.

He swung down from the table and stood before her.

"I will tell you," he said, in a voice very full of promise. "I love
you, Valerie, above all else on earth or, I think, in heaven; and I'll
not yield you to him. Say 'No' to me now, and at daybreak I start for La
Rochette to win you from him at point of sword."

Despite her fears she could not repress a little smile of scorn.

"Is that all?" said she. "Why, if you are so rash, it is yourself,
assuredly, will be slain."

He smiled tranquilly at that reflection upon his courage and his skill.

"So might it befall if I went alone," said he. She understood. Her eyes
dilated with horror, with loathing of him. The angry words that sprang
to her lips were not to be denied.

"You cur, you cowardly assassin!" she blazed at him. "I might have
guessed that in some such cutthroat manner would your vaunt of winning
me at the sword-point be accomplished."

She watched the colour fade from his cheeks, and the ugly, livid hue
that spread in its room to his very lips. Yet it did not daunt her. She
was on her feet, confronting him ere he had time to speak again. Her
eyes flashed, and her arm pointed quivering to the door.

"Go!" she bade him, her voice harsh for once. "Out of my sight! Go! Do
your worst, so that you leave me. I'll hold no traffic with you."

"Will you not?" said he, through setting teeth, and suddenly he caught
the wrist of that outstretched arm. But she saw nothing of immediate
danger. The only danger that she knew was the danger that threatened
Florimond, and little did that matter since at midnight she was to
leave Condillac to reach La Rochette in time to warn her betrothed. The
knowledge gave her confidence and an added courage.

"You have offered me your bargain," she