In their emotion, the marquis and Gaston forgot the threatened danger.  But Louis was not touched by the affecting scene.

“Time presses,” he said:  “you had better hasten.”

“He is right,” cried the marquis:  “go, Gaston, go, my son; and God protect the heir of the Clamerans!”

Gaston slowly got up and said, with an embarrassed air: 

“Before leaving you, my father, I must fulfil a sacred duty.  I have not told you everything.  I love Valentine, the young girl whose honor I defended this evening.”

“Oh!” cried the marquis, thunderstruck, “oh, oh!”

“And I entreat you, father, to ask Mme. de la Verberie for the hand of her daughter.  Valentine will gladly join me abroad, and share my exile.”

Gaston stopped, frightened at the effect of his words.  The old marquis had become crimson, or rather purple, as if struck by apoplexy.

“Preposterous!” he gasped.  “Impossible!  Perfect folly!”

“I love her, father, and have promised her never to marry another.”

“Then always remain a bachelor.”

“I shall marry her!” cried Gaston, excitedly.  “I shall marry her because I have sworn I would, and I will not be so base as to desert her.”

“Nonsense!”

“I tell you, Mlle. de la Verberie must and shall be my wife.  It is too late for me to draw back.  Even if I no longer loved her, I would still marry her, because she has given herself to me; because, can’t you understand—­what was said at the cafe to-night was true:  I have but one way of repairing the wrong I have done Valentine—­by marrying her.”

Gaston’s confession, forced from him by circumstances, produced a very different impression from that which he had expected.  The enraged marquis instantly became cool, and his mind seemed relieved of an immense weight.  A wicked joy sparkled in his eyes, as he replied: 

“Ah, ha! she yielded to your entreaties, did she?  Jarnibleu!  I am delighted.  I congratulate you, Gaston:  they say she is a pretty little fool.”

“Monsieur,” interrupted Gaston, indignantly; “I have told you that I love her, and have promised to marry her.  You seem to forget.”

“Ta, ta ta!” cried the marquis, “your scruples are absurd.  You know full well that her great-grandfather led our great-grandmother astray.  Now we are quits!  I am delighted at the retaliation, for the old witch’s sake.”

“I swear by the memory of my mother, that Valentine shall be my wife!”

“Do you dare assume that tone toward me?” cried the exasperated marquis.  “Never, understand me clearly; never will I give my consent.  You know how dear to me is the honor of our house.  Well, I would rather see you tried for murder, and even chained to the galleys, than married to this worthless jade!”

This last word was too much for Gaston.

“Then your wish shall be gratified, monsieur.  I will remain here, and be arrested.  I care not what becomes of me!  What is life to me without the hope of Valentine?  Take back these jewels:  they are useless now.”