But he found there only two helpless loyal women; and I say again that from the first hour of his entrance he sickened at the work which he had in hand, the work which ill-fortune had laid upon him.

Still he pursued it.

He had given his word; and if there was one tradition of his race which this man had never broken, it was that of fidelity to his side--to the man who paid him.

But he pursued it with only half his mind, in great misery, if you will believe me; sometimes in agonies of shame.

Gradually, however, almost against his will, the drama worked itself out before him, until he needed only one thing.
I looked at Mademoiselle, trembling.