Then, rushing upon the ship owner, and seizing him by the collar, he shouted:
"I've a great mind to hurl you down the cliff through that gap in the wall, you old bergamot-scented fop."
"Why, this poor man has gone stark, staring mad. Did any one ever see the like of it? What has happened to him?" stammered the amazed visitor.
"In God's name, take mademoiselle away!" thundered Segoffin, again turning to the housekeeper.
That lady, seeing Sabine turn pale and tremble like a leaf, had not waited to hear this injunction repeated before trying to lead Sabine to the house, but the young girl, in spite of her terror and the housekeeper's entreaties, could not be induced to leave the spot, deeming it cowardly to desert her father's friend under such circumstances; so, releasing herself from Suzanne's grasp, she approached the two men and cried, indignantly:
"Segoffin, your conduct is outrageous. In my father's name I command you to stop such scandalous behaviour at once."
"Help, help, he is strangling me!" murmured M. Verduron, feebly. "Ah, when the captain—"
The word captain sealed the ship owner's fate. In the twinkling of an eye Segoffin had seized M. Verduron around the waist, and had sprung with him over the low parapet on to the grassy slope below, where, still locked in each other's arms, they rolled unharmed to the bottom of the cliff, while Sabine, unable to control the terror which this last incident had excited, swooned in Suzanne's arms.
"Help, Thérèse, help! Mademoiselle has fainted; help!" cried the housekeeper. The servant came running in answer to the summons, and with her assistance Sabine was carried to the house.
This call was heard by Segoffin, who at once said to himself: "There is no farther cause for fear; our secret is safe!"