e tried for murder next week, and that if
Carteret presides you are no better than a dead man."

"To die for you and Marguerite is not so hard," said the young man, with
a smile.

"You shall do nothing of the sort," cried Rose, warmly, "listen to me.
The day is setting in for rain and storm. At five in the afternoon it
will be dark. Then one of us will come back with John Le Vesconte, of La
Rosiere, who is your match in stature, and who will be admitted on
account of his being of kin to us. He will change clothes with you, and
will remain in your stead while you come out of prison in his. He is in
favour with Carteret, and will be quit for a fine, which I will gladly
pay."

As she stood, warm and bright with zeal, and intellect flushing in her
eye, Alain thought that, with all his troubles, her exiled lord was a
happy man. But he had to think of his own case. Placing the broken form
of Marguerite tenderly in a chair, he stood up and looked full in Rose's
face, his hands joined, almost in an attitude of prayer.

"Do not tempt me," he said, in a low, but determined voice. "I will not
put another in my place to save my life, nor even to please Michael
Lempriere's wife. Moreover, John Valpy, the jailor here--who is somewhat
of my family, too, for our fathers married cousins--has dealt tenderly
with me, and I will not do what would bring ruin upon him. Tempt me no
more," he repeated hastily, seeing Rose about to interrupt him. "My mind
is fully made up."

"But for her sake," pleaded Mme. de Maufant, eyeing the almost senseless
girl with yearning pity. "Think of her young life, bound up with yours."

"Alas!" answered he, "who knows what maidens mean? She has been excited
by all that has befallen, and will doubtless be sorry for me, and
remember me. But her life can never be bound but by herself. Briefly, I
will not be saved on the terms you offer. Existence for me is without
value, honour is not."

After this speech, delivered in a tone of conviction, Rose could say no
more. For her part, Marguerite was helpless. Her nerves had broken in
the excitement of the whole scene, and by the time that Alain had done
speaking, she was on the edge of a fit of violent hysterics. When her
sister had succeeded, by the aid of the jailor's wife, hastily summoned,
in restoring a little calm, Marguerite insisted upon being taken away.
Alain was left unshaken in his resolve, and Rose, weary of the
unsuccessful interview, removed her sis