with me
now to receive you?"

"But he, at least, is in my debt," cried Mademoiselle, now making a step
forward, and sustained by an excitement born of hope. "Whatever may be
my father's sins, M. la Boulaye, at least, will not seek to visit them
upon the daughter, for he owes his life to me, and he will not forget
the debt."

Charlot's brows were suddenly knit with vexation. He half-turned to La
Boulaye, as if to speak; but ere he could utter a word--

"The debt has been paid, Citoyenne," said Caron impassively.

Before that cold answer, so coldly delivered, Mademoiselle recoiled.

"Paid!" she echoed mechanically.

"Aye, paid," he rejoined. "You claimed your brother's life in payment,
and I gave it to you. Do you not think that we are quits? Besides,"
he ended suddenly, "Captain Tardivet is the master here. Address your
appeals to him, Citoyenne."

With terror written on her face, she turned from him to meet the flushed
countenance of Charlot, who, with arms akimbo and his head on one side,
was regarding her at once with mockery and satisfaction.

"What do you intend by us, Monsieur?" she questioned in a choking voice.

He smiled inscrutably.

"Allay your fears, Citoyenne; you will find me very gentle."

"I knew you would prove generous," she cried.

"But, yes, Citoyenne," he rejoined, in the tones we employ to those who
fear unreasonably. "I shall prove generous; as generous as--as was my
lord your father."

La Boulaye trembled, but his face remained calmly expressionless as he
watched that grim scene.

"Monsieur!" Suzanne cried out in horror.

"You will not dare, you scum!" blazed the Marchioness.

Charlot shrugged his shoulders and laughed, whereupon Madame de
Bellecour seemed to become a being transformed. Her ample flesh, which
but a moment back had quivered in fear, quivered now more violently
still in anger. The colour flowed back into her cheeks until they flamed
an angry crimson, and her vituperations rang in so loud and fierce a
voice that at last, putting his hands to his ears, Charlot crossed to
the door.

"Silence!" he roared at her, so savagely that her spirit forsook her
on the instant. "I will put an end to this," he swore, as he opened the
door. "Hold there! Is Guyot below?"

"Here, Captain," came a voice.

Charlot retraced his steps, leaving the door wide, his eyes dwelling
upon Suzanne until she shrank under its gaze, as she might have done
from the touch of some unclean thing