"Have you resolved on renouncing M. de Morville?"
"What has that to do with it?"
"I must know this—for in this case only ought I to speak to you. It would be cruel to allow two creatures of God to perish for nothing."
"Then the life of two persons would be endangered?" cried Madame de Hansfeld.
"Wretched me! wretched you!" said Iris, much distressed, or appearing to be so, at her indiscretion. "You make me say what I did not wish to utter. Well, yet at this moment, the lives of two persons are in jeopardy."
"Thank God! you have been compelled to speak out: I will never buy the happiness of my whole life at such a price. I renounce M. de Morville! And may I be accursed if I ever——"
"Stay, godmother! I know the strength of your scruples, but I know, too, the strength of your love; although the lives of two persons may be in jeopardy, you may be accursed."
"Wretched girl!"
"Stay, godmother! let us leave events to follow their course—what will be will be!"
"Now you have filled my soul with affright, for I know of what you are capable: you seek to be silent. No—no—speak—I desire—I command you!"