"
"Have I done so?"
"In your heart, yes, I believe. A little while ago my husband's life and
freedom were in your hands--you will place them in mine now, will you
not?"
Iberville did not reply directly. He twisted his wineglass round, sipped
from it pleasantly, and said: "Pardon me, madame, how were you admitted
here?"
She told him.
"Singular, singular!" he replied; "I never knew Perrot fail me before.
But you have eloquence, madame, and he knew, no doubt, that you would
always be welcome to my home."
There was that in his voice which sent the blood stinging through
Gering's veins. He half came to his feet, but his wife's warning,
pleading glance brought him to his chair again.
"Monsieur, tell me," she said, "will you give my husband his freedom?"
"Madame, his life is the State's."
"But he is in your hands now. Will you not set him free? You know that
the charge against him is false--false. He is no spy. Oh, monsieur, you
and he have been enemies, but you know that he could not do a
dishonourable thing."
"Madame, my charges against him are true."
"I know what they are," she said earnestly, "but this strife is not
worthy of you, and it is shaming me.
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