De Noailles made a significant gesture to Dudley, and followed him.
“Jane,” cried Dudley, taking her hand, “I entreat—nay command you—to accompany me.”
“Dudley,” she replied, “I cannot—will not—obey you in this. If I could, I would detain you. But as I cannot, I will take no part in your criminal designs.”
“Farewell for ever, then,” rejoined Dudley, breaking from her. “Since you abandon me in this extremity, and throw off my authority, I shall no longer consider myself bound to you by any ties.”
“Stay!” replied Jane. “You overturn all my good resolutions. I am no longer what I was. I cannot part thus.”
“I knew it,” replied Dudley, straining her to his bosom. “You will go with me.”
“I will,” replied Jane, “since you will have it so.”
“Come, then,” cried Dudley, taking her hand, and leading her towards the door—“to the throne!”
“No,” replied Jane, sadly—“to the scaffold!”