He remained without speaking for five minutes. Then, raising his eyes to Aouda, he said:
"Madame, will you pardon me for having brought you to England?"
"I, Mr. Fogg!" replied Aouda, suppressing the throbbings of her heart.
"Be kind enough to allow me to finish," continued Mr. Fogg. When I thought of taking you so far away from that country, become so dangerous for you, I was rich, and I counted on placing a portion of my fortune at your disposal. Your life would have been happy and free. Now, I am ruined."
"I know it, Mr. Fogg," replied the young woman, "and I in turn will ask you:—Will you pardon me for having followed you, and—who knows? for having perhaps assisted in your ruin by delaying you?"
"Madame, you could not remain in India, and your safety was only assured by removing you so far that those fanatics could not retake you."
"So, Mr. Fogg," replied Aouda, "not satisfied with rescuing me from a horrible death, you believed you were obliged to assure my position abroad?"
"Yes, madame," replied Fogg, "but events have turned against me. However, I ask your permission to dispose of the little I have left in your favor."
"But you, Mr. Fogg, what will become of you?" asked Aouda.
"I, madame, replied the gentleman, coldly, "I do not need anything."
"But how, sir, do you look upon the fate that awaits you?"
"As I ought to look at it," replied Mr. Fogg.
"In any event," continued Aouda, "want could not reach such a man as you. Your friends———"
"I have no friends, madame."
"Your relatives———"
"I have no relatives now."
"I pity you then, Mr. Fogg, for solitude is a sad thing. What! have you not one heart into which to pour your troubles? They say, however, that with two misery itself is bearable?"
"They say so, madame."
