"
Corentin rose, stepped back a pace or two, and looked at Marie.
"You have grown rich in a very short time," he said, in a tone of
ill-disguised bitterness.
"Montauran," she continued, "will make you a better offer still for
his ransom. Now, then, prove to me that you have the means of
guaranteeing him from all danger and--"
"Can't you send him away the moment he arrives?" cried Corentin,
suddenly. "Hulot does not know he is coming, and--" He stopped as if
he had said too much. "But how absurd that you should ask me how to
play a trick," he said, with an easy laugh. "Now listen, Marie, I do
feel certain of your loyalty. Promise me a compensation for all I lose
in furthering your wishes, and I will make that old fool of a
commandant so unsuspicious that the marquis will be as safe at
Fougeres as at Saint-James."
"Yes, I promise it," said the girl, with a sort of solemnity.
"No, not in that way," he said, "swear it by your mother."
Mademoiselle de Verneuil shuddered; raising a trembling hand she made
the oath required by the man whose tone to her had changed so
suddenly.
"You can command me," he said; "don't deceive me again, and you shall
have reason to bless me to-night."
"I will trust you, Corentin," cried Mademoiselle de Verneuil, much
moved. She bowed her head gently towards him and smiled with a
kindness not unmixed with surprise, as she saw an expression of
melancholy tenderness on his face.
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