"Oh, Maurice, save him, save him first! and then ask of me my life."
"Geneviève," replied Maurice, in a desponding tone, "hear me! I have one foot on the road to infamy; before I make a final descent I wish at least to find a sufficient excuse for so doing. Geneviève, swear to me you do not love the Chevalier de Maison-Rouge!"
"I love him as a sister and a friend; not otherwise, I swear."
"Geneviève, do you love me?"
"Maurice, I do love you; it is true, as God now hears me."
"If I do what you ask me, will you abandon relatives, friends, country, and fly with the traitor?"
"Maurice! Maurice!"
"She hesitates! Oh, she hesitates!"
And he turned from her with all the violence of disdain. Geneviève, who was leaning upon him, feeling suddenly her support give way, fell upon her knees.