'Viper!' he groaned, 'it is your turn now.'
'And believe me, I shall not neglect it,' I replied, spurning him with my foot; 'ha—ha! M. le Comte, I hope your mother has been forgiven—'
'For what, fellow?'
'For bringing into the world, a villain so unparalleled as you! Now, hear me. You have in your possession a letter which you compelled me to write a few minutes ago—to write with this pistol at my ear. You will please to deliver up that letter?'
He hesitated.
'The letter!' I hissed through my teeth; 'or, by heaven! I will cut off your head with this dagger, and toss it through that shattered window.'
By the left hand he drew it from his breast, and in doing this, I perceived by a futile effort he made to move the right arm, that it was broken. I carefully tore the letter into the smallest pieces, and scattered them about.
'Good! now M. le Comte, I have another favour to ask. The letter of Mademoiselle de Lorraine?'
This he also delayed to give; but the pressure of my foot on his breast, proved an argument so persuasive, that he was forced to yield, and I carefully consigned it to my breast.
'Now, M. le Comte, I have still another little favour to ask; the pass-word for the day—the parole—speak, or die! ha, ha! a minute ago, it was you who said, "sign or die;" the parole?' I added, fiercely, 'or I will crush you, like the worm you are—ay, strangle you as the Lady of Lutzelstein was strangled.'