"Would you destroy yourself, madman?" roared a voice. "I thought your violence was abated, and that you might go forth in safety. But I find you are worse than ever."
Auriol uttered a groan and let the knife fall to the ground. The new-comer kicked it to a distance with his foot.
"You shall be removed to another chamber," he pursued, "where you can be more strictly watched."
"Take me forth—oh! take me forth," cried Auriol. "It was a mere impulse of desperation, which I now repent."
"I dare not trust you. You will commit some act of insane fury, for which I myself shall have to bear the blame. When I yielded to your entreaties on a former occasion, and took you forth, I narrowly prevented you from doing all we met a mischief."
"I have no recollection of any such circumstance," returned Auriol mournfully. "But it may be true, nevertheless. And if so, it only proves the lamentable condition to which I am reduced—memory and reason gone!"
"Ay, both gone," cried the other, with an irrepressible chuckle.
"Ha!" exclaimed Auriol, starting. "I am not so mad but I recognise in you the Evil Being who tempted me. I am not so oblivious as to forget our terrible interviews."
"What, you are in your lunes again!" cried Rougemont fiercely. "Nay, then I must call my assistants, and bind you."
"Let me be—let me be!" implored Auriol, "and I will offend you no more. Whatever thoughts may arise within me, I will not give utterance to them. Only take me forth."