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194 test, half entreaty was in her tone; and the Governor paused and bent his eyes upon her before he replied.

"For your sake more than any other's, it is best that he should."

"I do not understand you," cried Gabrielle, with a catch of the breath as in fear.

"He has impressed you so deeply that, were his life spared and his liberty given to him, you would never be safe from him. He is a murderer, a man of the vilest life, who would never cease to persecute you, after what has passed."

There was an even deeper depth of vileness in this man than she had deemed, was Gabrielle's thought; and for a moment it cost her a supreme effort to remain calm. But the thought of Gerard's peril came to her aid.

"Do you mean you would kill him out of consideration for me?" she asked, as if incredulous.

"I would do anything for you—either kill or pardon, but you will not let me," he answered, with the first touch of passion.

He had led round to his object cunningly; but not so cunningly that she did not understand him.

"Yet I may ask you," she replied. "Prove to me his unworthiness first; and then" she stopped.

"What then?"

"You cannot prove it, monsieur," she cried, as though she had first wavered in her faith and then rallied it. And so he read her words. "He is what I have said, an innocent and gallant gentleman."

"If he be Gerard de Cobalt he is a murderer of the vilest and most treacherous type. I have the fullest proofs."

"But if he be not M. de Cobalt?"

"Then he has shown himself a spy; and spies when they are caught must take their chances. But he is more than a spy."