The things we do!

It would do no good for you to claim the protection of
others--even if I had to fight all the boat's officers, I might
win. But in that case you could only lose. You would have to
explain who you are, why you are here. You would not be believed."
"What I wish to know is only one thing," she rejoined. "Not
offering terms, I want to know what is the alternative you have
proposed. Let us see if we can not reason calmly over this
matter." She also was suddenly cold and pale. The hand of a swift
terror was upon her now.
"You ask me to reason, and I answer I have no reason left. You ask
me what I propose, ask what we should do, and I answer I do not
know. But also I know that if you left me, I should never see you
again."
"But what difference, then? You are, I presume, only my new
constable."
"There could be no social chance for me--I've ruined that. You
would exact defeat of me as surely as you met me, there."
"Social chance?--Social--! Well, the _bon Dieu_! And here you
exact defeat for yourself.


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