"Sold!" he said. "It's those brats and the rifle is nothing but old iron! My God, you have a nerve!"
"Am I to shoot?"
"Come off it! A girl like you kills to defend herself, not for killing's sake. To hand me over to justice? Will that give you back the diamonds? I would rather have my tongue torn out and be roasted over a slow fire than divulge the secret. They're mine. I'll take them when I please."
"One step forward and I shoot."
"Right, you've won the party. I'm off."
He listened.
"The brats are gabbling over yonder. By the time they've untied them, I shall be a long way off. Au revoir.... We shall meet again."
"No," she said.
"Yes. I shall have the last word. The diamonds first. The love affair afterwards. I did wrong to mix the two."
She shook her head.