“She doesn’t mean it,” Newman declared after a moment.
“I think I can assure you that she does,” said the marquis.
“Poor woman, what damnable thing have you done to her?” cried Newman.
“Gently, gently!” murmured M. de Bellegarde.
“She told you,” said the old lady. “I commanded her.”
Newman shook his head, heavily. “This sort of thing can’t be, you know,” he said. “A man can’t be used in this fashion. You have got no right; you have got no power.”
“My power,” said Madame de Bellegarde, “is in my children’s obedience.”
“In their fear, your daughter said. There is something very strange in it. Why should your daughter be afraid of you?” added Newman, after looking a moment at the old lady. “There is some foul play.”
The marquise met his gaze without flinching, and as if she did not hear or heed what he said. “I did my best,” she said, quietly. “I could endure it no longer.”
“It was a bold experiment!” said the marquis.