At these words the eye of the count glittered; his lips trembled, but
he could not utter a word, so furious was he; he flung his dagger on
the table with such violence that the metal resounded like a
thunder-clap.

"Listen to me," he said in his strongest voice, "and remember my
words. I will never see or hear the little monster you hold in your
arms. He is your child, and not mine; there is nothing of me in him.
Hide him, I say, hide him from my sight, or--"

"Just God!" cried the countess, "protect us!"

"Silence!" said her husband. "If you do not wish me to throttle him,
see that I never find him in my way."

"Then," said the countess gathering strength to oppose her tyrant,
"swear to me that if you never meet him you will do nothing to injure
him. Can I trust your word as a nobleman for that?"

"What does all this mean?" said the count.

"If you will not swear, kill us now together!" cried the countess,
falling on her knees and pressing her child to her breast.

"Rise, madame. I give you my word as a man of honor to do nothing
against the life of that cursed child, provided he lives among the
rocks between the sea and the house, and never crosses my path. I will
give him that fisherman's house down there for his dwelling, and the
beach for a domain. But woe betide him if I ever find him beyond those