Leave me. It is over."

"What?" he exclaimed. "You promised him?"

She bowed her head.

"Then," the young man cried, in a transport of resentment, "I will be no
part of the price. See! There! And there!" He tore the white sleeve
wholly from his arm, and, rending it in twain, flung it on the floor and
trampled on it. "It shall never be said that I stood by and let you buy
my life! I go into the street and I take my chance." And he turned to
the door.

But Tavannes was before him. "No!" he said; "you will stay here, M. de
Tignonville!" And he set his back against the door.

The young man looked at him, his face convulsed with passion.

"I shall stay here?" he cried. "And why, Monsieur? What is it to you if
I choose to perish?"

"Only this," Tavannes retorted. "I am answerable to Mademoiselle now, in
an hour I shall be answerable to my wife--for your life. Live, then,
Monsieur; you have no choice. In a month you will thank me--and her."

"I am your prisoner?"

"Precisely."

"And I must stay here--to be tortured?" Tignonville cried.