When the machinist finished screwing the rings in the rock Maurice asked whether it would not be better to repeat this tableaux at once. The Duke approved. The terrifying dragon was properly arranged on the ground--the wonderful dragon which was the design of a renowned sculptor and perfectly executed by Gerard in papier maché. Perseus (the Duke) with one foot on the head of the vanquished monster, bent towards Andromeda. The breath of her half-opened mouth was hot on his lips, and he could hear the wild beating of her little heart. He felt an infinite tenderness steal over him, and when a tear trembled on the young girl's eyelashes he forgot everything, wiped the tear away tenderly with the end of his finger and kissed it lovingly. Happily the turning stage was almost out of sight and nobody except Genevieve had caught sight of the incident. Esperance breathed, "God, my God!" The Duke raised the poor child, and said to her very low, "I love you, Esperance." She murmured, "You must not ... you must not." While he was loosing her chains he continued, "I love you and I will do anything to win your love." She strengthened herself desperately. "You do not need to do anything for it, alas!" And she fled. When the Count came to find her, there was only the Duke talking to the stage hands. "Where is Esperance?" "I have no idea," replied Charles de Morlay dryly. Albert turned on his heel, delighted to see the Duke out of humour. Genevieve caught up with Andromeda who was running away out of breath, seeing nothing, hearing nothing. Genevieve saw her enter the grove leading to the clearing and there she joined her. "Esperance, my darling, my little sister, stop, I beg you." Her voice calmed the girl. She caught hold of one of the branches and clung to it, gasping. "Genevieve, Genevieve, why am I here?" Her eyes shone with a wild light. She seemed to be absolutely exalted. "He loves me, he loves me...." "And I love him." And she threw herself in her friend's arms. "I am as happy as you now, for I love.... The thick cloud that hung over everything is gone. Everything is bright and beautiful. This dark grove is sparkling with sunlight and...?" Genevieve stopped her. "Little sister, you are raving. Your pulse is racing with fever. We must go back. Think of poor Albert." Esperance drew herself up proudly, replying, "I will never betray him, I will tell the truth, and I will become the wife of the Duke." "You are talking wildly, dearest, the Duke will not marry you." "He will marry me, I swear it!" "Albert will enter the Chartist Monastery and the Countess Styvens will die of sorrow." "The Countess Styvens," said Esperance slowly. As the sweet face of the mother came before her mind's eye she began to tremble all over. Maurice had followed the girls into the grove, and he found them now in each other's arms. "Genevieve," said Esperance, "not a word of what I have said!"