Toni appeared, putting his face in the circular opening only to receive the furious vituperation of his captain.
Why had they left him alone with that woman?… They must take her off the boat at once, even if it had to be done by main force…. He commanded it.
The mate went off with a confounded air, scratching his beard as though he had received an order very difficult to execute.
"Save me, my love!" the imploring whisper kept moaning. "Forget who I am…. Think only of the one of Naples…. Of the one whom you knew at Pompeii…. Remember our happiness alone together in the days when you swore never to abandon me…. You are a gentleman!…"
Her voice ceased for a moment. Ferragut heard footsteps on the other side of the door. Toni was carrying out his orders.
But in a few seconds the pleading again burst forth, reconcentrated, tenacious, bent only upon carrying its point, scorning the new obstacles about to interpose between her and the captain.
"Do you hate me so?… Remember the bliss that I gave you. You yourself swore to me that you had never been so happy. I can revive that past. You do not know of what things I am capable in order to make your existence sweet…. And you wish to lose and to ruin me!…"
A clash against the door was heard, a struggle of bodies that were pushing each other, the friction of a scuffle against the wood.
Toni had entered followed by Caragol.
"Enough of that now, Señora," said the mate in a grim voice in order to hide his emotion. "Can't you see that the captain doesn't want to see you?… Don't you understand that you are disturbing him?… Come, now…. Get up!"