"Oh! it is frightful!"
"Never will I consent to again plunge England into a civil war. I would a thousand times prefer prison and death; but to leave you, my God!"
"What shall we do, James? What danger does this man run?"
"Immense! the possessor of such a state secret."
"But then, I must lose you or follow him. Ah, what shall I do? Time presses."
After a moment's reflection, Monmouth said, "We must not hesitate. Tell him everything. If he then consents to play my rôle for some hours, I am safe, and will have the means to place him beyond the resentment of the French envoy."
"James! if this man should be a traitor? Heavens! take care."
At this moment the adventurer, seeing the hand of the clock reach the fifth minute, said to Angela, "Well, madame, what have you decided upon? Yes or no? For I am incapable of listening to or understanding anything beyond. Will you follow me or will you not? Speak."
Monmouth approached him with a grave and imposing air. "I am going, sir, to give you a proof of the highest esteem and of——"
"Your esteem, scoundrel," cried Croustillac indignantly, interrupting the duke. "Is it, indeed, to me that you dare speak thus? Your esteem——"