“My dear Count,” said Pascal, “I deeply regret this unfortunate occurrence. My sister is self-willed, but she knows that she must ultimately do as I wish. I cannot humiliate her before her guests to-night. You must allow me to apologise for her rudeness, and I promise, as reparation, that she shall become your wife before a month has passed, and the same guests who are here to-night shall be bidden to witness the marriage ceremony.”
“I accept your pledge,” said the Count, “because I love your sister. Were it not so, I should demand satisfaction from you, her elder brother.”
“I acknowledge your right to do so,” said Pascal. “If I fulfil my pledge, will you be satisfied?”
“I will exact but one simple condition,” the Count answered.
“And that is?” Pascal queried, while Julien clutched nervously at his sword-hilt.
“A simple request and one easily granted,” said the Count. “It is that Lieutenant Duquesne shall leave this house at once.”
Julien looked at his watch. “It is beyond the hour, Pascal. If we do not go at once we shall be too late.”
“And you would postpone complying with my request until he has eaten his supper and can retire gracefully?” asked the Count, sarcastically.
“Let me explain,” cried Pascal. “You have, no doubt, heard the rumour that Vandemar Della Coscia is in Corsica. You know what that means to us—and to him! Julien and I have an engagement to meet a man in the maple grove who has given us his word of honour that he can tell us where to find this man. Come with us, Count. We are well armed—we have our swords—and need fear no danger from a single man, who is, probably, unarmed.”
The Count’s first impulse was to speak and disclose what he had learned through the strategy of Villefort. Then he reflected that if the death of his enemy could be compassed without his complicity being apparent, his marriage to Vivienne might not, after all, be impossible.