He wondered what the deuce she, too, was driving at, with her hope that he would not be afraid of her and her protestations of equality.

In so far as he could understand her, she was wrong; a silly, rattling woman was certainly not the equal of a sensible man, preoccupied with an ambitious passion.

Madame de Bellegarde stopped suddenly, and looked at him sharply, shaking her fan.

"I see you don't believe me," she said, "you are too much on your guard.

You will not form an alliance, offensive or defensive?
You are very wrong; I could help you." Newman answered that he was very grateful and that he would certainly ask for help; she should see.