"Equal!" cried the adventurer indignantly. "Equal, your highness? Do you dare compare yourself with me? Who am I? and what purpose do I serve here below if not to carry an old sword at my side, and to live here and there according to the whims of humankind? I am nothing, I do nothing, I have nothing to care for. To whom is my life of any use? Who interests himself about me? Who even knows if Polypheme de Croustillac exists or not?"
"Chevalier, you are not right, and----"
"Zounds! your highness, you belong to the d.u.c.h.ess, the adopted child of Sidney. If he died for you, it is the least you can do to live for her whom he loved as his own child! If you reduce her to despair, she may die of grief, and you will have two victims instead of one to lament."
"But once more, chevalier----"
"But!" cried Croustillac, with a significant glance at Angela, and beginning to talk loudly enough to deafen one, thus drowning the voice of the duke, "But you are a miserable wretch! an insolent fellow! to speak so to me! Help! help! come to my a.s.sistance!"
Then Croustillac said rapidly, and in a low tone, to the duke, "You force me to do this, your highness, for I have no alternative." And the adventurer began to shout at the top of his lungs.
The duke, paralyzed with surprise, remained motionless and looked at him in stupefaction.
At the cry of the Gascon, six men, forming a portion of the escort, which De Chemerant had stationed as sentinels in the gallery by the request of Croustillac, rushed into the room.
"Gag this rascal! gag him instantly!" cried Croustillac, who trembled at the fear that Chemerant might enter at this juncture.
The soldiers obeyed the chevalier"s order; they threw themselves upon the duke, who cried, as he struggled with them, "I am the prince; I am Monmouth."
Happily, these dangerous words were stifled by the loud cries of the chevalier, who, from the beginning of this scene, pretended to be a prey to the greatest anger, and stamped his foot with rage.
One of the soldiers, with the aid of his scarf, succeeded in gagging the duke, who was thus prevented from speaking.
Chemerant, attracted by the noise, entered quickly. He found Angela pale and greatly agitated. While she understood the reason of this struggle, she could not help being deeply moved.
"What has he done, then? your highness," cried Chemerant.
"That miserable wretch made such abominably insolent propositions to me that, in spite of my contempt for him, I was obliged to have him gagged."
"Your highness, you were right; but I foresaw that this miserable wretch would break his ominous silence!"
"This scene, however," cried Croustillac, "was not without its use. I was still hesitating, yes, I avow it, I was weak enough to. Now the die is cast; the guilty ones shall suffer for their crime. Let us start at once for the Cayman"s Cove; I have sent my orders to Captain Ralph; I shall not be content until I have seen them embark, under my own eyes; then we will return to Fort Royal."
"Do you really wish to be present at this sad scene, your highness?"
"Do I wish to? I would not give up that precious moment for the throne of England! I shall go to the vessel, and see these two criminals set sail for their destination where the breath of my vengeance will take them!"
"It is final, then, that you insist upon this?" said De Chemerant, still hesitating.
"It is final," returned Croustillac, in a most imposing and threatening voice, all in admirable accord with the part he played; "I expect to be obeyed when my orders are just. Make all preparations for the departure, I beg of you; if this miserable wretch does not choose to walk, he shall be carried; but above all, see that he is securely gagged, for if he should offer any further insolence I do not desire to hear it at any price."
One of the soldiers a.s.sured himself that the gag was securely tied; taking the duke, they tied his hands behind his back, and marched him off under guard.
"Are you ready, De Chemerant?" said Croustillac.
"Yes, your highness, I have only to give some orders to my men."
"Go, then, I will await you; I also have some orders to give."
The governor saluted and withdrew.
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE DEPARTURE.
Angela and the chevalier were alone.
"Saved! saved by you!" cried Angela.
"I would have wished to use different means, madame, but, without reproach to the duke, he is as obstinate as I am. It was impossible to do differently. There only remain a few moments now in which we may act.
Chemerant will return; let us think of what is most pressing. Your diamonds--where are they? Go quickly and get them, madame. Take them with you. Once all is discovered, beware of confiscation."
"The stones are there, in a secret box, in the duke"s apartment."
"Go quickly and get them. I will ring for Mirette to get you some clothing."
"Generous friend! But you! Oh G.o.d!"
"Be quiet; when I have no longer need to protect you, I will look out for myself. But quick! get your diamonds. Chemerant will be here shortly; I will ring for Mirette." The chevalier touched the bell.
Angela disappeared through the door leading to the duke"s private apartments.
Mirette appeared.
"She is very pretty, this little d.u.c.h.ess," mused Croustillac to himself, "very pretty. Oh, this time I am struck to the heart, I know it only too well. I shall never forget her. This is love; yes, this is true love.
Happily this danger will distract me, or these emotions would make me dizzy. Ah! there she comes!"
Angela entered carrying a small box. "We have always kept these stones in reserve, in case we should be suddenly compelled to fly," said she to Croustillac. "Our fortune is a thousand times a.s.sured. Alas! why is it that you----"
The young woman paused, fearing to offend the Gascon; then she continued sadly, with tears in her eyes, "You must have thought me very ign.o.ble, did you not, in accepting without hesitation your n.o.ble sacrifice? But you will be kind and indulgent. It was necessary in order to save the one who is the dearest object in the world to me--the man for whom I would give my own life a thousand times over. But wait, this is frightful egotism, to speak to you thus, to you whom I owe everything, and who are going, perhaps, to death for me. I am mad! Forgive me."
"Not another word on this subject, madame, I beg of you. Here is the duke"s sword, it was his father"s; here also is this little box which his mother gave him. These are precious relics; put them all in this large basket."
"Good and generous man!" exclaimed Angela, who was deeply moved; "you think of everything!"
Croustillac made no reply; he turned his head away in order that the d.u.c.h.ess should not see the great tears rolling down his cheeks. He extended his large, bony hands to the d.u.c.h.ess, and said, in a stifled voice, "Adieu, forever adieu! You will forget that I am a poor devil of a fellow and you will remember me sometimes as----"
"As our best friend, as our brother," said Angela, bursting into tears.
Then she took from her pocket a small medallion containing her cipher, and said to Croustillac, "See what I returned to the house to seek this evening. I desired to offer you this token of our friendship; it was in bringing it to you that I overheard your conversation with Colonel Rutler. Accept it, it will be a double souvenir of our friendship and of your generosity."
"Give it to me! oh, give it to me!" cried the Gascon, and then, pressing it to his lips, he said, "I am more than paid for what I have done for you, for the duke----"
"We are not ingrates. As soon as the duke is safe, we shall not leave you in the power of Chemerant, and----"