"Madame, I do not wish to understand," cried the chevalier, stamping his foot in a rage. "It is just because I have wished to understand that my head is almost turned." "Sir," said Angela, "I beg you to be calm and reflect----" "I do not wish to reflect nor to comprehend," cried Croustillac, exasperated afresh. "Right or wrong, I have determined that you accompany me, and you _shall_ accompany me. I do not know where your husband is and I do not wish to know; what I do know is that you have not been obdurate either to Caribbeans, or buccaneers, or mulattoes; very well you shall not be obdurate to me. You see that clock--if in five minutes you do not consent to accompany me, I will tell De Chemerant everything, come of it what will. Decide, then; I shall speak no more; I shall be deaf, for my head will burst like a bombshell at the slightest word." Croustillac threw himself into a chair, put his hands over his ears in order to hear nothing, and fixed his eyes on the clock. Monmouth had walked up and down the room incessantly; he, as well as Angela, was in terrible perplexity. "James, perhaps he is an honest man," said Angela in a low tone, "but his excitement terrifies me; see how wild his manner is." "We must risk confiding to his loyalty, otherwise he will speak." "But if he deceives us--if he tells all?" "Angela! between two dangers we must choose the least." "Yes, if he consents to pass for you, you are saved, at least this time." "But in this case I cannot leave him in the power of De Chemerant." "Oh! it is frightful!" "Never will I consent to again plunge England into a civil war. I would a thousand times prefer prison and death; but to leave you, my God!" "What shall we do, James? What danger does this man run?" "Immense! the possessor of such a state secret." "But then, I must lose you or follow him. Ah, what shall I do? Time presses." After a moment's reflection, Monmouth said, "We must not hesitate. Tell him everything. If he then consents to play my role for some hours, I am safe, and will have the means to place him beyond the resentment of the French envoy." "James! if this man should be a traitor? Heavens! take care." At this moment the adventurer, seeing the hand of the clock reach the fifth minute, said to Angela, "Well, madame, what have you decided upon? Yes or no? For I am incapable of listening to or understanding anything beyond. Will you follow me or will you not? Speak." Monmouth approached him with a grave and imposing air. "I am going, sir, to give you a proof of the highest esteem and of----" "Your esteem, scoundrel," cried Croustillac indignantly, interrupting the duke. "Is it, indeed, to me that you dare speak thus? Your esteem----" "But, sir----" "Not another word," continued Croustillac, turning toward Angela. "Madame, will you follow me? Is it yes or no?" "But listen----" "Is it yes or no?" exclaimed he, walking toward the door; "answer, or I will call De Chemerant."