"At present that is impossible," he replied. "I have too many enemies abroad as it is."
"Why not crush them while you have the opportunity?" she said. "Kill the Count, kill me. Why do you hesitate?"
"Count Felix certainly merits death," Herrick returned, "but I fear others more than I do the Count."
"Is it Maurice you fear? Your ambition hadn't fully blossomed that day in the forest, or you would not have saved him."
"You are unjust, mademoiselle."
"Do you suppose your action the other night would have been possible had you spoken the whole truth, and declared that Maurice was alive, that you were the one man who knew that he was alive?"
"I took the throne by right of birth, mademoiselle, you forget that. Why should I trouble to explain away Maurice's claim when his cousin Felix had had him buried in St. Etienne?"
"You know Maurice was not buried there?"
"But I do not know for certain that he is alive. Surely I am a better Duke than Felix?"
"You? An Englishman! A mere adventurer!"