“What is all this about?” said she.  “Come, now, promise me that if I had a lover you would still love me as a father; that would be love!  Come, now, promise it at once, and give us your fist upon it.”

“I should kill you,” and Castanier smiled as he spoke.

They sat down to the dinner table, and went thence to the Gymnase.  When the first part of the performance was over, it occurred to Castanier to show himself to some of his acquaintances in the house, so as to turn away any suspicion of his departure.  He left Mme. de la Garde in the corner box where she was seated, according to her modest wont, and went to walk up and down in the lobby.  He had not gone many paces before he saw the Englishman, and with a sudden return of the sickening sensation of heat that once before had vibrated through him, and of the terror that he had felt already, he stood face to face with Melmoth.

“Forger!”

At the word, Castanier glanced round at the people who were moving about them.  He fancied that he could see astonishment and curiosity in their eyes, and wishing to be rid of this Englishman at once, he raised his hand to strike him—­and felt his arm paralyzed by some invisible power that sapped his strength and nailed him to the spot.  He allowed the stranger to take him by the arm, and they walked together to the greenroom like two friends.

“Who is strong enough to resist me?” said the Englishman, addressing him.  “Do you not know that everything here on earth must obey me, that it is in my power to do everything?  I read men’s thoughts, I see the future, and I know the past.  I am here, and I can be elsewhere also.  Time and space and distance are nothing to me.  The whole world is at my beck and call.  I have the power of continual enjoyment and of giving joy.  I can see through walls, discover hidden treasures, and fill my hands with them.  Palaces arise at my nod, and my architect makes no mistakes.  I can make all lands break forth into blossom, heap up their gold and precious stones, and surround myself with fair women and ever new faces; everything is yielded up to my will.  I could gamble on the Stock Exchange, and my speculations would be infallible; but a man who can find the hoards that misers have hidden in the earth need not trouble himself about stocks.  Feel the strength of the hand that grasps you; poor wretch, doomed to shame!  Try to bend the arm of iron! try to soften the adamantine heart!  Fly from me if you dare!  You would hear my voice in the depths of the caves that lie under the Seine; you might hide in the Catacombs, but would you not see me there?  My voice could be heard through the sound of the thunder, my eyes shine as brightly as the sun, for I am the peer of Lucifer!”

Castanier heard the terrible words, and felt no protest nor contradiction within himself.  He walked side by side with the Englishman, and had no power to leave him.

“You are mine; you have just committed a crime.  I have found at last the mate whom I have sought.  Have you a mind to learn your destiny?  Aha! you came here to see a play, and you shall see a play—­nay, two.  Come.  Present me to Mme. de la Garde as one of your best friends.  Am I not your last hope of escape?”