"I am doing it for him," she continued with a sigh. "God knows I would do almost anything in the same cause. But I do not know men, and I fear it is possible that he will doubt me after I have succeeded. Let us go to see Betty. She is restful to me, and always soothes my nerves. But besides, I want to have her help. I'll introduce her to the king—"
"No, by God, you'll not introduce her to the king! I'll explode the whole affair, and Dunkirk may go to the devil before you shall introduce Betty to the king," I answered.
"Yet you are willing that I should meddle in the dangerous affair?
Evidently you love her more than you love me?"
"Only a few hundred million times more," I answered sullenly.
"Is it that way with you, my dear brother?" she asked, coming to me as I stood gazing out the window, seeing nothing save Bettina's face. Frances put her hand on my shoulder and said coaxingly: "Forgive me. No harm shall come to her through me."
Of course I was sorry that I had allowed myself to become angry, and at once made my apology as well as I could.
"Let us go to see Betty, anyway," said Frances. And I assenting, she went to fetch her cloak, hat, and vizard.
But when she returned, I had changed my mind and declined to go, telling
Frances that I must see Bettina no more.
"Why?" asked Frances.
"Because I would not win a love from her which I cannot accept."