"I understand you, your highness; I see perfectly; but that will be terrible," said De Chemerant, who thought that Croustillac intended to starve his wife and the mulatto.
"Terrible! you have said it, sir. All that I ask of you, and as a witness of my injury you cannot refuse me, is to give me the necessary a.s.sistance in order to conduct this guilty pair on board one of my ships. I will, myself, place them with the captain and give him his orders; orders which, perhaps he would not dare to obey if I did not give them in person."
Monsieur de Chemerant, in spite of his cunning, was duped by the seeming rage of Croustillac; he said to him respectfully, "Your highness, justice is severe, but should not be cruel."
"What do you say, sir?" cried Croustillac proudly, "am I not the sole judge of the punishment due this guilty pair? Do you refuse me your a.s.sistance when it only requires you to take this man and his accomplice on board a vessel belonging to me?"
"No, sir, but I would say to your highness that it would be, perhaps, more generous----"
Angela, seeing that she must no longer remain inactive, threw herself at the feet of Croustillac, crying, "Have mercy!" while Monmouth seemed to be wrapped in a deep and sad silence; then, addressing De Chemerant, the young woman continued, "Oh, sir, you seem to be sensible and good; intercede for me with my dear lord, that he condemn me to less cruel pain. I have merited it all, I will suffer all, but that my dear lord----"
"I forbid your calling me your "dear lord," madame," said Croustillac.
"I am no longer your dear lord."
"Ah well, your highness, do not send me on board the vessel of which you speak."
"And why not, madame?"
"My G.o.d! because that the brigantine is the Chameleon, commanded by Captain Ralph; your highness, this man is cruel; he succeeded the filibuster Whirlwind in this command."
"And that is just why I have chosen the Chameleon, madame; it is just because Captain Ralph is the most cruel enemy of your unworthy lover,"
said Croustillac, who understood perfectly Angela"s meaning.
"But, your highness, you know very well that this vessel will be anch.o.r.ed to-morrow morning very near here, almost at the foot of the cliff in the alligators" cave."
"Yes, madame, I know it."
"Oh, your highness, would you compel me to embark there when nothing in the world would make me even approach its banks? My G.o.d! have you forgotten the frightful memories that this place is connected with in my mind?"
"Oh! the cunning creature," thought Croustillac; "she wishes to say, what I did not know, that there is a vessel of hers called the Chameleon, whose captain is devoted to her, and who will anchor to-morrow near here. I have it! This is just her own vessel she had prepared hastily to furnish her and the duke a means of escape, when she saw me carried off by Colonel Rutler; one of the negro fishermen was doubtless sent ahead to deliver her directions."
The Gascon, after some little reflection, said aloud, "Yes, those memories are terrible to you, I know it, madame."
"Then, your highness, have you the heart----"
"Yes, yes," cried the chevalier, in an explosion of rage, "yes, no pity for the infamous creature who has so unworthily outraged me! All the better, my vengeance commences but the sooner. I will show you that you have no pity to look for from me; you shall see!" He struck a bell.
"What are you going to do, your highness."
"Your faithful Mirette will come; you shall yourself give her the order to send to Captain Ralph to prepare everything on board the Chameleon to set sail at daybreak."
"Ah, your highness, it is barbarous to make me give the order, myself."
"Obey, madame, obey."
Mirette appeared. Angela gave the order in a broken voice.
"I have obeyed you, and now your highness, in pity grant me a last favor in the name of our past love."
"Oh, yes, by St. George!" cried Croustillac, "past? oh, past, decidedly."
"Allow me one moment, your highness, the favor of an interview."
"No, no, never!"
"Do not refuse me; do not be so pitiless?"
"Out of my sight, faithless woman!"
"My lord!" said Angela, clasping her hands.
"Your highness," said De Chemerant, "at the moment of quitting madame forever, do not refuse her this last consolation."
"You also, De Chemerant, you also? and though you have been a witness?--Ah, well, I consent, madame, but upon one condition."
"You have but to order."
"That your paramour remain during our conversation."
"Really, this is not so bad, I think," said Croustillac to himself; "I hope the d.u.c.h.ess will understand me and at first refuse."
"But, my dear lord," said Angela; "the last interview that you grant me should be between us alone."
"Marvelous! oh, she comprehends a half word," said Croustillac to himself; then aloud, "And why, then, should our interview be private?
Have you something you desire to hide from your best beloved--from the lover of your choice?"
"But if I desire to beg your forgiveness, sir?"
"You can do so before your accomplice. The more you accuse yourself, the more you depict your conduct as disloyal, infamous, unworthy, the more you affirm the lowness of your choice. This will be your punishment and this scoundrel"s also."
"But, my lord?"
"That is my ultimatum," replied Croustillac.
"Do you not fear the despair of this man?" said De Chemerant in a low tone.
"No; traitors are always cowards. Behold this one--what a gloomy, downcast air. He does not dare as much as lift his eyes to me. In any case, sir, send, I beg, some men of yours to the gallery outside, instructed to enter at my first signal." Then, turning with an air of reconsidering, and desiring to make a master stroke, Croustillac said, "In fact, if you will be present at this interview, Monsieur De Chemerant, the punishment of this guilty couple will be complete."
"Oh, sir, in pity do not condemn me to such a depth of shame and humiliation," cried Angela, in despairing tones. "And you, sir, have the generosity not to consent to this," she said to De Chemerant.
Monsieur De Chemerant had the delicacy to excuse himself to the Gascon; he left the room, and left Monmouth, Angela, and the adventurer together.
The envoy had hardly left the room before Monmouth, after a.s.suring himself that he could not be overheard, held out his hand cordially to Croustillac, and said to him, feelingly, "Sir, you are a man of spirit, courage, and resolution; accept our thanks, and pardon us for having suspected you even for a moment."
"Yes, yes, pardon our unjust suspicions," said Angela, on her part taking the Gascon"s hand between her own. "We were so disturbed, and your manner was so furious, so wild!"
"We all had reason, madame;" said the adventurer, "you had reason to be disturbed, because my return was not very rea.s.suring. I had reason to be furious, because I supposed the duke to be a bandit. As to my wild manner, by heavens! it may be said without offense, you will acknowledge that enough strange things have occurred during the last two days, and I may be excused for being a little astounded. Fortunately, I recovered my self-possession when I saw I had been a fool and had risked everything."
"Brave and excellent man," said Monmouth.