"In your discourse you seem to have reproached me," continued the governor, "for not having had faith in your honor as a gentleman, and for refusing to allow you to go yourself to procure your money, with your word for my security?" "Very true, my Lord." "Well, Monsieur," said Wentworth, "you may set out to-day; the gates of Calais will be opened to you; your request is granted." "I understand," said Gabriel, bitterly,--"you wish to separate me from her. But suppose I refuse to leave Calais now?" "I am master here, Monsieur," was Lord Wentworth's reply; "and it is not for you to refuse or to accept my commands, but to submit to them." "Very well, then," said Gabriel, "I will go, my Lord, but without any especial gratitude for your generosity, I warn you." "Nor have I any need of your thanks, Monsieur." "I will go," said Gabriel; "but be sure that I shall not long remain your debtor, and that I shall soon come back, my Lord, to pay all my debts at once. Then I shall no longer be your prisoner, nor will you be my creditor, and there will no longer be any reason why the sword which I wear should not cross with yours." "I might refuse this combat, Monsieur," said Lord Wentworth, rather gloomily; "for the chances between us would not be equal. If I should kill you, she would hate me all the more bitterly; whereas if you should kill me, the result would be to make her love you the more dearly. But no matter, I must and do accept. But are you not afraid," he added sombrely, "of driving me to extremities? When almost all the advantage is with you, might I not be justified in making an unfair use of those which I can still call my own?" "God on high and the nobility of every country on earth would be your judges, my Lord," said Gabriel, shuddering, "if you should be such a coward as to wreak your vengeance upon those whom you are unable to vanquish, by oppressing those who are unable to defend themselves." After a pause, Lord Wentworth said,-- "It is three o'clock, Monsieur, and you have until seven--the hour when the inner gates are closed--to make your preparations and leave the town. I will meanwhile give my orders that you be allowed to pass free." "At seven o'clock, my Lord, I shall have left Calais." "And be sure," resumed Wentworth, "that you shall never re-enter it again alive, and that even if you should succeed in slaying me in single combat without the walls, my precautions will be taken, and well taken (you may trust my jealousy for that), so that you shall never possess--nay, you shall never even see Madame de Castro again." Gabriel had already taken some steps on his way from the room; he stopped at the door on hearing these last words. "What you say is quite impossible, my Lord," he rejoined; "for it is very necessary that I should see Diane again, sooner or later." "However, it shall not be, Monsieur, I swear to you, if the will of the governor of a city or the last words of a dying man are to be respected."