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For the second time Mademoiselle turned and looked at him

"Then," she whispered, hite lips, "to what end this--mockery?"

"To the end that seven lives

"At a price?" she muttered

"At a price," he answered "A price which women do not find it hard to

pay--at Court 'Tis paid every day for pleasure or a whiaws Few, Madeed

to buy a life; still fewer, seven!"

She began to tremble "I would rather die--seven ti And she tried to rise, but sat down again

"And these?" he said, indicating the servants

"Far, far rather!" she repeated passionately

"And Monsieur? And Monsieur?" he urged with stern persistence, while his

eyes passed lightly froain, their

depths inscrutable "If you love Monsieur, Mademoiselle, and I believe

you do--"

"I can die with him!" she cried

"And he with you?"

She writhed in her chair

"And he with you?" Count Hannibal repeated, with emphasis; and he thrust

forward his head "For that is the question Think, think,

Mademoiselle It is in my power to save from death him whom you love; to

save you; to save this canaille, if it so please you It is in my

power to save him, to save you, to save all; and I will save all--at a

price! If, on the other hand, you deny me that price, I will as

certainly leave all to perish, as perish they will, before the sun that

is now rising sets to-night!"

Madeht before her, the flicker of a dreadful

prescience in her eyes

"And the price?" she muttered "The price?"