"What, Brooke?"
"You're a fool!"
"Yes, Brooke."
"You're a fool!" he repeated, in a voice that sounded like a gasp. "Why will you persist in talking in this way, and blight and shatter all my strength of soul? It's too late, I tell you. I will not. I will not do anything that can expose you to fresh danger; your peril is great enough now, but there is a bare chance for you if nothing happens. When they have got one life they may feel inclined to spare the other."
"Never!" said Talbot. "They shall not. I will not have it."
"You must!" said Brooke, fiercely.
"I tell you I will not!" cried Talbot, in a passionate voice.
"D—n you!" roared Brooke. "I tell you you must, and you shall!"
At this there was a noise below. Some of the guard had awakened. Brooke drew a long breath, and retreated from the window into the darkness. Talbot went after him.
"Talbot," said Brooke, in a voice that was strangely sweet yet unutterably sad—"Talbot, do you want to break my heart?"