I must ask you to alight, Citoyenne." "To what purpose, Monsieur ?" she asked, in a voice which she strove to render cold and steady.
"To the purpose that your part of the bargain be carried out.

Your mother and your treasure were to find their way into Prussia upon condition that you return with me to France." "It was a bargain of coercion, Monsieur," she answered attempting to brazen it out.

"I was a woman in a desperate situation." "Surely your memory is at fault, Citoyenne," he answered, with a politeness that was in itself a mockery.
"Your situation was so little desperate that I had offered to effect the rescue both of your mother and yourself without asking any guerdon.
Your miserable treasure alone it was that had to be sacrificed.

You will recall that the bargain was of your own proposing." There was a pause, during which he stood waiting for her reply.

Her blue eyes made an attempt to meet his steady gaze, but failed.