"Nay, that is an even greater injustice than ever. Who of us even guessed that the man was de Cobalt?" De Proballe's tone was a good imitation of injured innocence.
"You have betrayed me, I say; and if the thing miscarries you shall suffer," returned the Governor, in no mood to listen to any reason. "You should have stopped the mischief as soon as you saw it was going so far."
"It happened but yesterday."
"God's Cross! man, what has that to do with it? Is a mischief like this to be counted by hours? Was it ever in our plan that the villain should win your niece's heart?"
"He had at least to make such an impression as would induce her to consent to marry him. It is but a passing fancy which the proof of his evil character will cure—and his flight will prove it better than aught else."
"Passing fancy!" exclaimed the Duke bitterly. "Are you blind? I know not when I have so keenly suffered. But if he do not fly, he shall suffer too."
"He is not fool enough to remain. It was a shrewd thought to give him time to cool and think; and if he have any mind to linger, I will find arguments to drive him away. He has yet to learn your methods of justice here in Morvaix: I can find in them ample reasons for him. Although why you let him go instead of dealing with him at once I do not see."
"If he flies, his flight will be, as you say, the proof of his guilt."
"He will fly," said de Proballe, confidently. "Did he not shun your province as a man would shun hell? Did he not refuse to come without that promise of pardon in writing? By a man's acts you shall know him, not by his words. Let him think of Gabrielle as he will, he will think more of his own life. But I would have kept him."
