"Why do you stop?"
As he began again lamely, she interrupted:
"No, Dossonville, you see as well as I that it cannot be. Why does every one wish to save me?"
"I do not understand."
"Yes, Dossonville, you do, and you see your mistake. You would make me out a murderess. I am not a murderess. I gave my life to the Nation in exchange for Javogues's. I killed him to save Barabant, to save a hundred others who would perish if he had lived. As a patriot, I killed him to deliver the Nation of a monster. Only my life can justify the deed. Don't you see?" She took his hands in hers, saying: "Dear friend, bring me before the tribunal and I will bless you."
"And Barabant?" Dossonville said desperately.
She shook her head. In her present exaltation all that seemed like another life which she had renounced for martyrdom.
"And Barabant?" repeated Dossonville.
"Tell him I did it to save him. He will venerate my memory." She added slowly: "Then I will hold a place in his heart that no woman can ever take. That will be for the best."