Croustillac followed the slave, was dressed, shaved and thus went to wait upon Blue Beard in the same room where he had waited the preceding night. The widow shortly appeared. CHAPTER XIV. TRUE LOVE. At sight of Blue Beard, in spite of himself, Croustillac blushed like a schoolboy. "I was very disagreeable yesterday, was I not?" said Angela to the chevalier, with an enchanting smile. "I gave you a bad opinion of me when I permitted Rendsoul to tell all kinds of tricks; but do not let us speak of them any more. By the way, Youmaeale, the Caribbean, is here." "I saw you from my window, madame," said the chevalier bitterly, while he thought, "She has not the slightest shame. What a pity, with such an adorable face. There, Croustillac, be firm!" "Is Youmaeale not very handsome?" asked the widow with a triumphant air. "Humph! he is handsome for a savage," returned the chevalier, unwillingly; "but, now that we are alone, madame, explain to me how you can in one day (do not be shocked by this question which circumstances compel me to ask you), how you can in one day change your lover?" "Oh, it is simple enough; one comes, the other goes; it is very simple." "One comes, the other goes--it is very simple from this standpoint, but, madame, nature and morality have laws!" "All three love me truly, why should I not love all three?" This answer was made with such perfect candor that the chevalier said to himself, "It seems as if this unhappy woman must have been raised in some desert or cavern. She has not the slightest idea of good and evil; one would have to absolutely educate her." He said aloud, with some embarrassment, "At the risk of being taken for an indiscreet and wearisome person, madame, I would say that this morning, during your walk with the Caribbean, I both saw and heard you. How is it that at a sign from him you would dare, at the risk of poisoning yourself, lift to your lips the deadly fruit of the poisonous apple?" "If Youmaeale should say to me 'die' I should die," replied the widow. "But the buccaneer, the filibuster--what would they say if you should die for the Caribbean?" "They would say I had done right." "And if they demanded that you should die for them?" "I would die for them." "As you would for Youmaeale?" "As for Youmaeale." "Then you love the three equally?" "Yes, because all three love me equally."