To which Craven Le Noir, in a sonorous voice responded:
"I will."
"Indeed you will? We'll see that presently!" said Cap to herself.
The priest then turning toward the bride, inquired:
"Wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, etc., etc., etc., so long as ye both shall live?"
To which the bride, throwing aside her veil, answered, firmly:
"No! not if he were the last man and I the last woman on the face of the earth and the human race was about to become extinct and the angel of Gabriel came down from above to ask it of me as a personal favor."
The effect of this outburst, this revelation, this explosion, may be imagined but can never be adequately described.
The priest dropped his book and stood with lifted hands and open mouth and staring eyes as though he had raised a ghost!
The two Le Noirs simultaneously sprang forward, astonishment, disappointment and rage contending in their blanched faces.