"I can die with better grace now," he said at last.
Not daring to trust himself further he turned to the window again. As he put his hand on the lock of the casement he heard shouts and cries outside, he saw torches. Escape that way was barred. The whole castle seemed suddenly to awake. He realized it all in a moment. He had been traced there. In another minute he would be discovered in the Countess's room at that hour of the morning. He turned swiftly to the dismayed girl.
"They are there," he said. "Escape is cut off."
Steps and voices resounded in the corridor.
"Quick," she said, "the closet yonder—you can hide."
She understood the peril as well as he.
"And bring disgrace upon you when they caught me? Never!"
"Marteau, for God's sake, I love you," said the woman agonizingly. "I cannot——"
She stretched out her hands to him again. Very lovely she looked, the peignoir falling from her white shoulders, the soft candle-light illuminating and yet concealing in its vague shadows the beauty of face and figure. Marteau did not dare to dwell upon that. He must act and instantly. He rushed toward the woman. He caught her by the hand. He even shook her a little.
"Shriek," he whispered in her ear.