"Last night is not to-day," he answered.

"Midnight is not daylight! I have told you where the spell is, where, at least, it is reputed to be, what it does, and under what sway it lays her; you who love her--and I see you do--you who have access to the house at all hours, who can watch him out----" "We watched him out last night!" Claude muttered.
"Ay, but day is day! In the daylight----" "But it is not laid on me to do this! I am not the only one----" "You love her!" "Who has access to the house." "Are you a coward ?" Claude breathed hard.

He was driven to the wall.

Between his promise to her, and the Syndic's demand, he found himself helpless.

And the demand was not so unreasonable.