"Sir," said Angela, "I beg you to be calm and reflect——"
"I do not wish to reflect nor to comprehend," cried Croustillac, exasperated afresh. "Right or wrong, I have determined that you accompany me, and you shall accompany me. I do not know where your husband is and I do not wish to know; what I do know is that you have not been obdurate either to Caribbeans, or buccaneers, or mulattoes; very well you shall not be obdurate to me. You see that clock—if in five minutes you do not consent to accompany me, I will tell De Chemerant everything, come of it what will. Decide, then; I shall speak no more; I shall be deaf, for my head will burst like a bombshell at the slightest word."
Croustillac threw himself into a chair, put his hands over his ears in order to hear nothing, and fixed his eyes on the clock.
Monmouth had walked up and down the room incessantly; he, as well as Angela, was in terrible perplexity.
"James, perhaps he is an honest man," said Angela in a low tone, "but his excitement terrifies me; see how wild his manner is."
"We must risk confiding to his loyalty, otherwise he will speak."
"But if he deceives us—if he tells all?"
"Angela! between two dangers we must choose the least."
"Yes, if he consents to pass for you, you are saved, at least this time."
"But in this case I cannot leave him in the power of De Chemerant."