Louise uttered a scream as Bras d’Acier advanced towards her, and would have fled; but Lachaussée held her by the hand, and he pulled her into the vault. The women at the same time rose from their seats and collected around, and in an instant had dispossessed her of a few ornaments of humble jewellery which she carried in her hair.
‘M. Lachaussée,’ cried the terrified girl, ‘you have cruelly deceived me! Where is M. de Sainte-Croix?’
A loud laugh broke from those about her, as Bras d’Acier took her from the intendant and pulled her under the lamp.
‘M. de Sainte-Croix will be here directly; especially if he knows such a pretty face expects him. In the meantime you can bestow your favours as you please. Give me a kiss.’
He attempted to draw her still closer towards him; but Louise, shuddering from his advances, freed herself from his hold and crouched down at his feet.
‘Is there no one to protect me?’ she cried. ‘M. Lachaussée, you shall pay dearly for this treachery. Help! help! Gaudin! are you near me, or have I been so cruelly deceived?’
‘Pshaw!’ returned the ruffian, at whose feet she was crouching, as he liberated her wrists. ‘I never give myself much trouble in these matters; too many women are too eager to court me. There—get up; you will know better after you have lived with us a little time.’
‘What do you mean?’ asked the terrified girl. ‘You do not intend to keep me here?’
‘I am sorry, if it displeases you, to say we cannot let you go,’ answered Lachaussée, entirely altering his tone.
‘What is the meaning of all this? For the love of heaven, tell me for what you have brought me hither?’