“Is he the devil?”
“He is far worse to me!” he vehemently replied. “But if you love me, try to imitate that man’s devotion to me, and obey him on pain of death!——”
“Of death!” she exclaimed, more frightened than ever.
“Of death,” repeated Lucien. “Alas! my darling, no death could be compared with that which would befall me if——”
Esther turned pale at his words, and felt herself fainting.
“Well, well,” cried the sacrilegious forger, “have you not yet spelt out your daisy-petals?”
Esther and Lucien came out, and the poor girl, not daring to look at the mysterious man, said:
“You shall be obeyed as God is obeyed, monsieur.”
“Good,” said he. “You may be very happy for a time, and you will need only nightgowns and wrappers—that will be very economical.”
The two lovers went on towards the dining-room, but Lucien’s patron signed to the pretty pair to stop. And they stopped.