"Now, Madame," continued Gabriel, pale but firm, "are you willing to do me the further favor of swearing, as before, upon this crucifix, that Madame de Castro is King Henri II.'s daughter? You do not reply? Oh, why do you not reply. Madame?"
"Because I cannot take that oath, Monsieur."
"Ah, mon Dieu, mon Dieu! Diane is my father's child, then?" cried Gabriel, tottering.
"I did not say that! I will never assent to that!" cried Madame de Valentinois; "Diane de Castro is the king's daughter."
"Oh, really, Madame? Oh, how kind you are!" said Gabriel. "But, pardon me! Your own interest may induce you to say so. So swear it, Madame, swear it! In the name of your child, who will bless you for it, oh, swear it!"
"I will not swear," said the duchess. "Why should I?"
"But, Madame," said Gabriel, "this very moment you took the same oath simply to gratify your vulgar curiosity, as you told me yourself; and now, when a man's very life is at stake, when by saying these few words, you might rescue two souls from the bottomless pit, you ask, 'Why should I say these words?'"
"But I will not swear, Monsieur," said Diane, coldly and decidedly.
"And if I should marry Madame de Castro notwithstanding, Madame, and if Madame de Castro is my sister, don't you think that the crime will rebound upon you?"
"No," replied Diane, "not when I have not taken my oath to it."