“Is my sister such a coward?” said Roland.
Renée could only call out his name.
“It will never do, my dear Nevil”; Roland tried to deal with his unreasonable friend affectionately. “I am responsible for her. It’s your own fault—if you had not saved my life I should not have been in your way. Here I am, and your proposal can’t be heard of. Do as you will, both of you, when you step ashore in Venice.”
“If she goes back she is lost,” said Beauchamp, and he attacked Roland on the side of his love for Renée, and for him.
Roland was inflexible. Seeing which, Renée said, “To Venice, quickly, my brother!” and now she almost sighed with relief to think that she was escaping from this hurricane of a youth, who swept her off her feet and wrapt her whole being in a delirium.
“We were in sight of the city just now!” cried Roland, staring and frowning. “What’s this?”
Beauchamp answered him calmly, “The boat’s under my orders.”
“Talk madness, but don’t act it,” said Roland. “Round with the boat at once. Hundred devils! you haven’t your wits.”
To his amazement, Beauchamp refused to alter the boat’s present course.
“You heard my sister?” said Roland.