"Are not my orders sufficient to insure obedience?
I hear that absolute force has had to be used towards you during my absence.
Tell me, my son, what plans you have devised during these hours of solitude, and what hopes you still venture to cherish." "I intend to be free, and I will be so." The Duke affected not to hear the reply, uttered as it was in a tone of derision.
"It was very easy for me to discover, from your obstinacy, that some woman had endeavored to entrap you, and by her insidious counsels inducing you to disobey your best friend." He paused, but there was no reply.
"This woman--this dangerous woman--I have been in search of, and as you can conceive, I easily found her.

I went to the Forest of Bevron, and there I need not tell you I found Mademoiselle de Laurebourg." "Did you speak to her ?" "I did so, certainly.

I told her my opinion of those manoeuvring women who fascinate the dupes they intend to take advantage of--" "Father!" "Can it be possible that you, simple boy even as you are, could have been deceived by the pretended love of this wily young woman?
It is not you, Marquis, that she loves, but our name and fortune; but _I_ know if _she_ does not that the law will imprison women who contrive to entrap young men who are under age." Norbert turned deadly pale.
"Did you really say that to her ?" asked he, in a low, hoarse voice, utterly unlike his own.

"You dare to insult the woman I love, when you knew that I was far away and unable to protect her! Take care, or I shall forget that you are my father." "He actually threatens me," said the Duke, "my son threatens me;" and, raising the heavy stick he held in his hand, he struck Norbert a violent blow.

By a fortunate movement the unhappy boy drew back, and so avoided the full force of the stroke, but the end of the stick struck him across the temple, inflicting a long though not a serious wound.