"And we have suspected him," said Angela, looking at her husband. "He must forgive us," said the duke. "Men like him are so rare that it is not unnatural to doubt them when one encounters them." "Hold on, my lord, you embarrass me. Let us speak of other matters. Do you, or do you not, accept the viceroyship? After that, do not think I shall press you to speak in order to relieve me from your role; it pleases me, it amuses me. I have become quite accustomed to it. Nevertheless, it will be somewhat unpleasant to no longer hear myself addressed as 'my lord duke,' to say nothing of my laughing in my sleeve when I think of all the absurdities which I have made that good De Chemerant, with his important air, swallow. If I persist, your highness, in praying that you resume your rank, as it seems they are terribly in need of you in England in order to secure the happiness of the people in general and that of Cornwall in particular; you must know that better than I do----" "Ah! I know only too well the vain pretexts that one offers to ambition." "But, your highness, all appears to be perfectly prepared. The frigate which has brought the good De Chemerant is filled with arms and ammunition; there is in it enough to arm and revolutionize all the Cornishmen in the world; moreover, you can count on a dozen of your partisans." "Of my partisans! and where, then?" cried Monmouth. "On board Chemerant's frigate. These brave men are waiting for me, that is to say, waiting for you, your highness, with great impatience. There is above all a madman named Mortimer, whom De Chemerant had the greatest difficulty in the world to keep on board, so much was he possessed with the desire to embrace me--I would say embrace you, for I confound us all the time." Angela, seeing the troubled manner of her husband, said to him, "My God! what ails you?" "I can no longer hesitate," replied Monmouth, "I must tell De Chemerant the whole truth." "Heavens, James! what are you saying?" "You wish to be viceroy, your highness?" interposed Croustillac. "No, sir, I desire to prevent your ruining yourself on my account. My gratitude will be no less lasting for the service that you wished to do me." "How, your highness? Is it not, then, to become viceroy that you would dispossess me of my principality?" "My partisans are on board the frigate; if I should accept your generous offer, sir, to-morrow you would be known--lost." "But, your highness----" "Except for this circumstance which, I repeat, would cause your discovery in a moment, I would, perhaps, have excepted your generous devotion, the mistake of De Chemerant might have continued for a few days, and I could have put you beyond the reach of his resentment; but to accept your offer, sir, knowing the presence of my friends on board the frigate, would be to expose you to certain danger. I can never consent to do that."