But at the moment I had no choice; it was my business to use such instruments as came to my hand, and not, mademoiselle's safety being at stake, to pick and choose too nicely.

In a few minutes our positions were reversed.

The lad had grown as hot as I cold, as keenly excited as I critical.

When he presently came to a stand in front of me, I saw a strange likeness between his face and the priest's; nor was I astonished when he presently made just such a proposal as I should have expected from Father Antoine himself.
'There is only one thing for it,' he muttered, trembling all over.

'He must be got rid of!' 'Fine talking!' I said, contemptuously.