“Carried off, indeed!” she retorted with a sneer. “And what if she had simply grown weary of you and took the first chance to escape? On my word, I should not blame her!”
“She did not go away of her own will,” I said, quite positively. “She was carried away. Tell me what you saw.”
“I saw nothing,” she repeated sullenly.
“Very well,” I said between my teeth, “it seems you are prepared to die, then. Say your prayers. Commend your soul to God, if you possess one, for I warn you that I will kill you as I would a snake, without an instant’s hesitation.”
She looked at me for a moment, her eyes glittering, her face livid, her mouth working convulsively. She licked her lips and swallowed with an effort.
“Come,” I repeated, “you have nothing more to say then?” and my sword quivered in my hand.
She saw I was in earnest.
“I will tell you what I know, Monsieur,” she said at last.
“Good. That is the only way to save your life,” and I lowered my point. “If I find you lying to me, you shall die none the less surely.”
“All that I know, Monsieur, is that ten minutes after you had left three men entered. One remained on guard here, while the others mounted the stair. In a moment they returned, bringing the lady with them. Despite her struggles, they placed her in a coach which was waiting in the street, and drove away as fast as their horses could take them.”