“How dare you, monsieur!” she panted.  “Go at once, or I shall call for aid!”

So I went into the passage; and as I left the room I could still hear the hellish click of the ivory ball in the roulette-wheel.  I was utterly confounded.

But before I reached the end of the little hall Jacqueline came running back to me.

“Monsieur!” she gasped.  “M.  Paul!  For the sake of—­of what I once thought you, I do not want you to be seen.  You are in dreadful danger.  Come back!”

“Never mind the danger, madame,” I answered, and I saw her flinch at the word and look at me in dazed bewilderment.  “Never mind my danger.”

“It is for your own sake, monsieur,” she said more gently.

“No, Mme. d’Epernay,” I answered; and she winced again, as though I had struck her across the face.

“For my sake,” she pleaded, catching at my arm, and at that moment I heard a door slam underneath and heavy footsteps begin slowly to ascend the stairs.

“No, madame,” I answered, trying to release my arm from her clasp.  Her face was full of fear, and I knew it was fear of the man below, not me.

“Then for the sake of—­our love, Paul!” she gasped.

I suffered her to lead me back into the room.  In truth, I was in no hurry to go.  As she drew me back and closed the door behind us I heard the footsteps pause and turn along the corridor.

I knew that heavy gait as well as though I already saw Leroux’s hard face before my eyes.

Jacqueline pushed me inside the room behind her father’s chair and closed, but did not hasp, the door.  The room was completely dark, and I did not know whether it connected with other rooms or was a mere closet, but the freshness of the air in it inclined me to the former view.

Over my head the torrent roared, and I had to stand very close to the door to hear what passed.

I heard Leroux tramp in and his voice mingling with the click-click of the ball in the roulette-wheel.

“Who is here?” he demanded.

“I am,” answered Jacqueline.

“I thought I heard Lacroix,” said Leroux thickly.

“I have not seen M. Lacroix to-day,” Jacqueline returned.

Leroux stamped heavily about the room and then sat down.  I heard the legs of his chair scratch the wooden floor as he drew it up to the table.

“Maudit!” he burst out explosively.  “Where is d’Epernay?  I am tired of waiting for him!”

“I have told you many times that I do not know,” answered Jacqueline; and there followed the click-click of the ball inside the wheel again.

“How long will you keep up this pretense, madame?” cried Leroux angrily.  “What have you to gain by concealing the knowledge of your husband from me?”

“M.  Leroux, why will you not believe that I remember nothing?” answered Jacqueline.