which Paul could not catch. Then he heard the girl utter a little cry. "Look!" she exclaimed eagerly. "Look! I will make you an offer. Free me from[67] this horrible nightmare, give me your word that you will not persecute me further, and I will give you these." [67] Paul heard the rustle of draperies, and was conscious that the girl reached out her hands. The man greedily took something from her. His head was bent over the object, whatever it might be, long and earnestly. Then he heard a thick voice say in French: "They are beautiful, very beautiful. But what are they to us? You think they are worth a hundred thousand roubles, eh? Suppose they are—what of that? Do you think a hundred thousand roubles will save you? Bah!" The man chuckled thickly. "But they are very pretty baubles," he went on, "and since you offer them to me,[68] I see no reason why I should not keep them." [68] "Ah!" cried the girl. "Then Boris will be satisfied?" "Satisfied!" exclaimed the man, "satisfied, for this much! Not he! Why, it's ridiculous." "Then give them back to me," said the girl, quietly, with a quaver in her voice. "Give them back to me. Would you rob me?" "I am not robbing you," answered the man, sullenly. "I am taking what you offered me. I shall not give them back. It is impossible for you to make me. You would cry out, would you? What good would that do? Cry out, call for help—do what you like—but think first what will it mean for you. Give them back? Not I! I—" But his speech ended suddenly at this[69] point, for Paul, always quick to action, took quick action now. [69] Moving round the trunk of the tree, he caught the man deftly by the collar of his coat, kicked his heels from under him, and brought him with a heavy crash to the ground. The man lay still.
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