"Do you hear?
Do you understand?
You have but to speak to be free! You have but to say the word, and Monsieur lets you go! In God's name, speak! Speak then, Clotilde! Oh!" with a gesture of despair, as she did not answer, but continued to sit stony and hopeless, looking straight before her, her hands picking convulsively at the fringe of her girdle.
"She does not understand! Fright has stunned her! Be merciful, Monsieur.

Give her time to recover, to know what she does.

Fright has turned her brain." Count Hannibal smiled.

"I knew her father and her uncle," he said, "and in their time the Vrillacs were not wont to be cowards.

Monsieur forgets, too," he continued with fine irony, "that he speaks of my betrothed." "It is a lie!" Tavannes raised his eyebrows.