"Thus, then, sir," continued Pierre Raimond, "we meet upon equal grounds, as man and man; as such you shall account to me for the misery heaped on my gentle my unoffending child; I give you a fortnight to repair the wrongs you have done her."
"Really, a fortnight; can you not make it more?"
"And if, at the end of that period, you do not conduct yourself as honour and justice require, towards Bertha——"
"Well, sir, and what then?"
"You shall see."
"Come, madam," said M. de Brévannes, taking his wife by the arm.
"Farewell, dearest father; I pray you calm yourself; I will soon come again."
"That is, if I think proper to permit you," said M. de Brévannes, with bitter irony.
"Make yourself easy, my child; your father will watch over and protect you," cried Pierre Raimond, weeping bitterly. Bertha followed her husband out, and the old man was left alone.