"No, _monsieur_," she answered chillingly. "No, _monsieur_!" "Do you wish me to go?" She said nothing, and I walked unsteadily toward the door. She followed me slowly. I went out of the room and pulled the door to behind me. I knew that after it had closed I should never see Jacqueline again. She opened it and stood confronting me; and then burst into a flood of impassioned speech. "Why have you followed me here to persecute me?" she cried. "Are you under the illusion that I am helpless? Do you think the friends who rescued me from you have forgotten that you exist? You took advantage of my helplessness. I do not want to see you. I hate you!" "You told me that you loved me, and I believed you, Jacqueline," I answered miserably, watching the colour flame to her lovely face. And I could see she remembered that. "When I was ill you used me for your own base schemes," she went on with cutting emphasis. "And you--you followed me here. Do you think that I am unprotected, and that you are dealing only with an old man and a helpless woman? Why, I have friends who would come in and kill you if I but raised my voice!" "Raise your voice, _mademoiselle_. I am ready for your friends," I answered. She looked less steadily at me and seemed to waver. "What have you come for?" she asked. "Have you not had money enough? Do you want more?" I seized her by the wrists. Thus I held her at arm's length, and my fingers tightened until I saw the flesh grow white beneath them. The intensity of my rage beat hers down and made it a puny thing. "Jacqueline! You take me for an adventurer?" I cried. "Is _that_ what they told you? Why do you think I brought you so near your home when you were, as you said, helpless? Only a few nights ago you said you loved me; that you would never send me away until I wished to go. What is it that has happened to change you so, Jacqueline?" I had her in my arms. She struggled fiercely, and I let her go. "How dare you, _monsieur_!" she panted. "Go at once, or I shall call for aid!" So I went into the passage; and as I left the room I could still hear the hellish click of the ivory ball in the roulette-wheel. I was utterly confounded. But before I reached the end of the little hall Jacqueline came running back to me. "Monsieur!" she gasped. "M. Paul! For the sake of--of what I once thought you, I do not want you to be seen. You are in dreadful danger. Come back!" "Never mind the danger, _madame_," I answered, and I saw her flinch at the word and look at me in dazed bewilderment. "Never mind my danger." "It is for your own sake, _monsieur_," she said more gently. "No, Mme. d'Epernay," I answered; and she winced again, as though I had struck her across the face. "For my sake," she pleaded, catching at my arm, and at that moment I heard a door slam underneath and heavy footsteps begin slowly to ascend the stairs.