Then, as consciousness fully returned, she, too, took fire.
"No!" she cried, "I will not!" and she struggled more violently.
"You shall!" he retorted between his teeth.

"You shall not perish here." But she had her hands free, and as he spoke she thrust him from her passionately, desperately, with all her strength.

He had his one foot in the air at the moment, and in a flash it was done.

With a cry of rage he lost his balance, and, still holding the bar, reeled backwards through the window; while Mademoiselle, panting and half fainting, recoiled--recoiled into the arms of Hannibal de Tavannes, who, unseen by either, had entered the room a long minute before.

From the threshold, and with a smile, all his own, he had watched the contest and the result..