Berenger looked at Philip; saw how faded and wan was the ruddy sun-burnt complexion, how lank and bony the sturdy form, how listless and wasted the hands.  Then arose, bursting within him, the devoted generosity of the French nature, which would even accept sin and ruin for self, that so the friend may be saved; and after all, had he not gone to mass out of mere curiosity?—­did he not believe that there was salvation in the Gallican Church?  Was it not possible that, with Philip free to tell his story at home, his own deliverance might come before he should be irrevocably committed to Madame de Selinville?  If Eustacie were living, her claims must overthrow that which her rival was forcing upon him at her own peril.  Nay, how else could he obtain tidings of her?  And for those at home, did they deserve that he should sacrifice all, Philip included, for their sake?  The thoughts, long floating round his brain, now surged upon him in one flood, and seemed to overwhelm in those moments of confusion all his powers of calling up the other side of the argument; he only had an instinct remaining that it would be a lie to God and man alike.  ’God help me!’ he sighed to himself; and there was sufficient consideration and perplexity expressed in his countenance to cause the Chevalier to feel his cause almost gained; and rising eagerly, with tears in his eyes, he exclaimed, ’Embrace me, my dear, dear son!  The thing is done!  Oh! what peace, what joy!’

The instinct of recoil came stronger now.  He stepped back with folded arms, saying again, ’God help me!  God forbid that I should be a traitor!’

‘My son, hear me; these are but easily removed points of honour,’ began the Chevalier; but at that moment Philip suddenly started from, or in his slumber, leapt on his feet, and called out, ‘Avaunt, Satan!’ then opened his eyes, and looked, as if barely recalling where he was.

‘Philip!’ exclaimed Berenger, ‘did you hear?’

‘I—­I don’t know,’ he said, half-bewildered.  ’Was I dreaming that the fiend was parleying with us in the voice of M. le Chevalier there to sell our souls for one hour of home?’

He spoke English, but Berenger replied in French.

’You were not wrong, Philip.  Sir, he dreamt that the devil was tempting me in your voice while you were promising me his liberty on my fulfilling your first condition.’

‘What?’ said Philip, now fully awake, and gathering the state of things, as he remembered the words that had doubtless been the cause of his dream.  ’And if you did, Berenger, I give you warning they should never see me at home.  What! could I show my face there with such tidings?  No!  I should go straight to La Noue, or to the Low Countries, and kill every Papist I could for having debauched you!’

‘Hush! hush!  Philip,’ said Berenger; ’I could not break my faith to Heaven or my wife even for your sake, and my cousin sees how little beholden you would be to me for so doing.  With your leave, Monsieur, we will retire.’