“I say I will not!” Then, a little of the man showed itself in him.
“But you are a good girl, Vivienne, to brave the darkness and the danger to follow a miserable fellow like me. I sat down here to think.”
“To think of what? Oh, tell me,” cried Vivienne.
“Of my disgrace, for one thing. I am in debt, as usual, and this very day Pascal called me a profligate, gambler, and drunkard, and refused to give me any more money. Damn him!”
“Oh, Julien! You know that Pascal has paid your debts again and again until he is discouraged. You make promises and break them. Is it strange that he has become incensed and has lost confidence in you? You persist in going to that woman’s house, a vile place, a resort for gamblers.”
“Stop that nonsense! I will go where I like. Who made you and my brother rulers over me? He is a hard, cold, cruel, selfish beast, and you know it! I don’t blame you, sister. You have always been kind to me, but you think I can live upon my income. Bah! I want money! I must have it! I will have it! The only way I can get it is by gambling, for I am always lucky. You are a fool—clear out, I want to be alone.”
“But your luck will turn some day,” said his sister.
“I hope it won’t to-night. I’ll drink to my own success.”
“No, no! Oh, Julien! you are not yourself. Give me that bottle, I beg of you.”
As she said this, she tried to take the bottle from him. He kept her back with one hand, while, with the other, he put the bottle to his mouth. Vivienne sprang forward, snatched the bottle from his grasp, and threw it against the cliff.