"No, _madame_," I answered, trying to release my arm from her clasp. Her face was full of fear, and I knew it was fear of the man below, not me. "Then for the sake of--our love, Paul!" she gasped. I suffered her to lead me back into the room. In truth, I was in no hurry to go. As she drew me back and closed the door behind us I heard the footsteps pause and turn along the corridor. I knew that heavy gait as well as though I already saw Leroux's hard face before my eyes. Jacqueline pushed me inside the room behind her father's chair and closed, but did not hasp, the door. The room was completely dark, and I did not know whether it connected with other rooms or was a mere closet, but the freshness of the air in it inclined me to the former view. Over my head the torrent roared, and I had to stand very close to the door to hear what passed. I heard Leroux tramp in and his voice mingling with the _click-click_ of the ball in the roulette-wheel. "Who is here?" he demanded. "I am," answered Jacqueline. "I thought I heard Lacroix," said Leroux thickly. "I have not seen M. Lacroix to-day," Jacqueline returned. Leroux stamped heavily about the room and then sat down. I heard the legs of his chair scratch the wooden floor as he drew it up to the table. "_Maudit_!" he burst out explosively. "Where is d'Epernay? I am tired of waiting for him!" "I have told you many times that I do not know," answered Jacqueline; and there followed the _click-click_ of the ball inside the wheel again. "How long will you keep up this pretense, _madame_?" cried Leroux angrily. "What have you to gain by concealing the knowledge of your husband from me?" "M. Leroux, why will you not believe that I remember nothing?" answered Jacqueline. "How can you have forgotten? Why did you run away after marrying him? What were you doing in New York? Who was the man who accompanied you to the Merrimac?" he shouted. Through the chink of the door I saw the old man look up in mild protest at the disturbing sounds. I clenched my fists, and the temptation to make an end of Leroux was almost too strong for my restraint. But to Jacqueline the insult conveyed no meaning, and Leroux continued in more moderate tones. "Come, _madame_, why do you not play fair with me?" he asked. "Who is that man Hewlett, and why did he accompany you so far toward your _chateau_? Before God, I know your husband and he have been plotting with Tom Carson against me, but why he should thus place himself in my power I cannot understand." "Ah, you have spoken of a Tom Carson many times," said Jacqueline. "Soon, _monsieur_, I shall begin to believe that such a person really exists." "Tell me where you met Hewlett."