Beausire, who believed them for a moment disarmed by the sight of a woman, was soon cruelly undeceived.
One of the men approached Oliva, and said:
“I arrest you.”
“Arrest her! Why?” cried Beausire.
“Because it is M. de Crosne’s orders.”
A thunderbolt falling between the lovers would have frightened them less than this declaration.
At last Beausire said, “You came to arrest me?”
“No; it was a chance.”
“Never mind, you might have arrested me, and for sixty louis you were about to leave me at liberty.”
“Oh no, we should have asked another sixty; however, for one hundred we will do so.”