Part 45 (1/2)

”Equal!” cried the adventurer indignantly. ”Equal, your highness? Do you dare compare yourself with me? Who am I? and what purpose do I serve here below if not to carry an old sword at my side, and to live here and there according to the whims of humankind? I am nothing, I do nothing, I have nothing to care for. To whom is my life of any use? Who interests himself about me? Who even knows if Polypheme de Croustillac exists or not?”

”Chevalier, you are not right, and----”

”Zounds! your highness, you belong to the d.u.c.h.ess, the adopted child of Sidney. If he died for you, it is the least you can do to live for her whom he loved as his own child! If you reduce her to despair, she may die of grief, and you will have two victims instead of one to lament.”

”But once more, chevalier----”

”But!” cried Croustillac, with a significant glance at Angela, and beginning to talk loudly enough to deafen one, thus drowning the voice of the duke, ”But you are a miserable wretch! an insolent fellow! to speak so to me! Help! help! come to my a.s.sistance!”

Then Croustillac said rapidly, and in a low tone, to the duke, ”You force me to do this, your highness, for I have no alternative.” And the adventurer began to shout at the top of his lungs.

The duke, paralyzed with surprise, remained motionless and looked at him in stupefaction.

At the cry of the Gascon, six men, forming a portion of the escort, which De Chemerant had stationed as sentinels in the gallery by the request of Croustillac, rushed into the room.

”Gag this rascal! gag him instantly!” cried Croustillac, who trembled at the fear that Chemerant might enter at this juncture.

The soldiers obeyed the chevalier's order; they threw themselves upon the duke, who cried, as he struggled with them, ”I am the prince; I am Monmouth.”

Happily, these dangerous words were stifled by the loud cries of the chevalier, who, from the beginning of this scene, pretended to be a prey to the greatest anger, and stamped his foot with rage.

One of the soldiers, with the aid of his scarf, succeeded in gagging the duke, who was thus prevented from speaking.

Chemerant, attracted by the noise, entered quickly. He found Angela pale and greatly agitated. While she understood the reason of this struggle, she could not help being deeply moved.

”What has he done, then? your highness,” cried Chemerant.

”That miserable wretch made such abominably insolent propositions to me that, in spite of my contempt for him, I was obliged to have him gagged.”

”Your highness, you were right; but I foresaw that this miserable wretch would break his ominous silence!”

”This scene, however,” cried Croustillac, ”was not without its use. I was still hesitating, yes, I avow it, I was weak enough to. Now the die is cast; the guilty ones shall suffer for their crime. Let us start at once for the Cayman's Cove; I have sent my orders to Captain Ralph; I shall not be content until I have seen them embark, under my own eyes; then we will return to Fort Royal.”

”Do you really wish to be present at this sad scene, your highness?”

”Do I wish to? I would not give up that precious moment for the throne of England! I shall go to the vessel, and see these two criminals set sail for their destination where the breath of my vengeance will take them!”

”It is final, then, that you insist upon this?” said De Chemerant, still hesitating.

”It is final,” returned Croustillac, in a most imposing and threatening voice, all in admirable accord with the part he played; ”I expect to be obeyed when my orders are just. Make all preparations for the departure, I beg of you; if this miserable wretch does not choose to walk, he shall be carried; but above all, see that he is securely gagged, for if he should offer any further insolence I do not desire to hear it at any price.”

One of the soldiers a.s.sured himself that the gag was securely tied; taking the duke, they tied his hands behind his back, and marched him off under guard.

”Are you ready, De Chemerant?” said Croustillac.

”Yes, your highness, I have only to give some orders to my men.”

”Go, then, I will await you; I also have some orders to give.”