"After supper ?" she gasped.
"Yes, Mademoiselle, this evening.

Shall I say--at eight o'clock ?" In horror of the thing which menaced her, of the thing from which only two hours separated her, she could find no words but those which she had already used.

The worst was upon her; worse than the worst could not befall her.
"But he has not persuaded me!" she cried, clenching her hands in passion.
"He has not persuaded me!" "Still he may, Mademoiselle." "He will not!" she cried wildly.

"He will not!" The room was going round with her.

The precipice yawned at her feet; its naked terrors turned her brain.