effort to appear
calm. The servant comes in._]

_Catherine_ [_tremulously, to the servant_]--Ask my father to come
here, immediately. [_The servant goes out. Catherine looks toward the
window and makes a movement to go to it._] No, I will not look out! I
will not know anything! I do not know anything; I have _heard_
nothing; the minutes that that hand marks upon the clock, no one knows
what they say to me. One of them will decide my life! Even if I had
heard nothing, things would take the turn that they have, and I should
merely be amazed in knowing of them. Instead of knowing nothing, I
have merely to remember nothing. But no, no,--I am trying in vain to
smother the voice of my own conscience! What I am doing is wicked.
From the moment that I have known anything about this, I am an
accomplice; and if one of these two men is killed he has been killed
with my consent. No, I cannot and I will not. [_She runs toward the
door. As she does so Mrs. Clarkson enters hastily._] You, you, madam!

_Mrs. Clarkson_--Were you not really expecting me to-day, madam? My
husband sends me a note to say that you--and he--wish to speak to me
immediately.

_Catherine_--Madam, since Mr. Clarkson has written you, there has
occurred a thing which neither your husband, nor I, nor you yourself
could foresee.

_Mrs. Clarkson_--What do you mean?

_Catherine_--While my husband the duke has been explaining to Mr.
Clarkson the reasons of the duel,--which you, you, madam, have
provoked,--your husband, who did not find these reasons either
sufficient or honorable, has undertaken to defend us--Gerard, yes,
Gerard, and me,--and so very forcibly, that at this instant--

_Mrs. Clarkson_--They are fighting?

_Catherine_--Yes, yes, only a few steps away from here!

_Mrs. Clarkson_--Ah! That sounds like Clarkson! [_She takes a step
toward the door._]

_Catherine_--Madam, that duel must not go on.

_Mrs. Clarkson_--Why not?

_Catherine_--I will not permit these two men to lose their lives on my
account.

_Mrs. Clarkson_--You? What difference does it make to you? They are
not doing anything but what they chose to do. "Hands off," as the
officials at the gaming-tables say when the ball has stopped rolling.
You have wished to be free, haven't you? and you are perfectly right;
you never said so to anybody, but you begged it all the same of One
who can do anything. He has heard your prayer, and he has made use of
me to save you; of me, who have