u will do no good,
sir. I would to Heaven,' she added bitterly, 'I had stayed at Chize and
never seen this place!'

'But, mademoiselle,' I said, 'you have not thought--'

'Thought!' she exclaimed, shutting her small white teeth so viciously
I all but recoiled. 'I have thought enough. I am sick of thought. I am
going to act now. I will be a puppet no longer. You may take me to the
castle by force if you will; but you cannot make me speak.'

I looked at her in the utmost dismay, and astonishment; being unable at
first to believe that a woman who had gone through so much, had run so
many risks, and ridden so many miles for a purpose, would, when all
was done and the hour come, decline to carry out her plan. I could
not believe it, I say, at first; and I tried arguments, and entreaties
without stint, thinking that she only asked to be entreated or coaxed.

But I found prayers and even threats breath wasted upon her; and beyond
these I would not go. I know I have been blamed by some and ridiculed by
others for not pushing the matter farther; but those who have stood face
to face with a woman of spirit--a woman whose very frailty and weakness
fought for her--will better understand the difficulties with which I had
to contend and the manner in which conviction was at last borne in on
my mind. I had never before confronted stubbornness of this kind. As
mademoiselle said again and again, I might force her to Court, but I
could not make her speak.

When I had tried every means of persuasion, and still found no way of
overcoming her resolution the while Fanchette looked on with a face of
wood, neither aiding me nor taking part against me--I lost, I confess,
in the chagrin of the moment that sense of duty which had hitherto
animated me; and though my relation to mademoiselle should have made me
as careful as ever of her safety, even in her own despite, I left her
at last in anger and went out without saying another word about removing
her--a thing which was still in my power. I believe a very brief
reflection would have recalled me to myself and my duty; but the
opportunity was not given me, for I had scarcely reached the head of the
stairs before Fanchette came after me, and called to me in a whisper to
stop.

She held a taper in her hand, and this she raised to my face, smiling at
the disorder which she doubtless read there. 'Do you say that this house
is not safe?' she asked abruptly, lowering the light as she spoke.

'Y