“Would you rather I said hypocrisy?”
“Sir, you offend me.”
“You mean that I read you clearly. Will you spare me the pain of making you blush?”
“I do not understand you,” said the girl, three times, looking at the doctor with eyes shining with interrogation and defiance, and almost with menace.
“But I understand you. You doubt science, and you hope to hide your condition from the world. But, undeceive yourself—with one word I pull down your pride: you are enceinte!”
Andrea uttered a frightful shriek and fell back on the sofa.
This cry was followed by the crash of the door flying open and Philip bounded into the room, drawing his sword and crying:
“You lie!”
Without letting go the pulse of the fainted woman, the doctor turned round to the captain.
“I have said what it was my duty to say,” he replied: “and it is not your sword, in or out of the sheath, which will belie me. I deeply sorrow for you, young gentleman, for you have inspired as much sympathy as this girl has aversion by her perseverance in falsehood.”