"
"Adieu!" cried the marquis.
He turned away, but the lady ran after him.
"Why won't you stay with me?" she said, giving him the look,
half-despotic, half-caressing, with which women who have a right to
a man's respect let him know their wishes.
"You are going to pillage that coach?"
"Pillage? what a word!" she said. "Let me explain to you--"
"Explain nothing," he said, taking her hand and kissing it with the
superficial gallantry of a courtier. "Listen to me," he added after a
short pause: "if I were to stay here while they capture that diligence
our people would kill me, for I should certainly--"
"Not kill them," she said quickly, "for they would bind your hands,
with all the respect that is due to your rank; then, having levied the
necessary contribution for their equipment, subsistence, and munitions
from our enemies, they would unbind you and obey you blindly."
"And you wish me to command such men under such circumstances? If my
life is necessary to the cause which I defend allow me at any rate to
save the honor of my position. If I withdraw now I can ignore this
base act. I will return, in order to escort you."
So saying, he rapidly disappeared. The young lady listened to his
receding steps with evident displeasure. When the sound on the dried
leaves ceased, she stood for a moment as if confounded, then she
hastily returned to the Chouans.
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