In the presence of death a man's words are to be relied on.

Listen to me.

I swear to you, on my honor and by all my hopes of future salvation, that the Duchess de Champdoce is entirely free from guilt." "You have said that before; why repeat it again ?" "Because it is my duty; because I am thinking that, if I die, it will be my insane passions that have caused the ruin of one of the best and purest women in the world.

I entreat you to believe that she has nothing to repent of.

See, I am not ashamed to descend to entreaty.