“And how risk life, Monsieur?”
“If I fail—if alarm be given—if I am opposed, voilà—!”
I opened the breast of my coat, exposing to his view my pistols.
“Yes!” I continued; “I am reckless enough. I shall use them if necessary. I shall take life if it stand in the way. I am resolved; but you must not risk an encounter. You must remain here—I shall go to the house alone.”
“No—no!” he answered promptly; “I go with you.”
“I cannot permit it, Monsieur. It is better for you to remain here. You can stay by the fence until I return to you—until we return, I should say, for I come not back without her.”
“Do not act rashly, Monsieur!”
“No, but I am determined. I am desperate. We must not go farther.”
“And why not? I, too, have an interest in this affair.”
“You?” I asked, surprised at the words as well as the tone in which they were spoken. “You an interest?”