There then rose to her lips a red froth, which Ursus wiped away with the

fold of her robe, before Gwynplaine, who was prostrate at her feet,

could see it.

Gwynplaine took her feet in his hands, and implored her in all kinds of

confused words.

"I tell you, I will not have it! You die? I have no strength left to

bear it. Die? Yes; but both of us together--not otherwise. You die, my

Dea? I will never consent to it! My divinity, my love! Do you understand

that I am with you? I swear that you shall live! Oh, but you cannot have

thought what would become of me after you were gone. If you had an idea

of the necessity which you are to me, you would see that it is

absolutely impossible! Dea! you see I have but you! The most

extraordinary things have happened to me. You will hardly believe that I

have just explored the whole of life in a few hours! I have found out

one thing--that there is nothing in it! You exist! if you did not, the

universe would have no meaning. Stay with me! Have pity on me! Since you

love me, live on! If I have just found you again, it is to keep you.

Wait a little longer; you cannot leave me like this, now that we have

been together but a few minutes! Do not be impatient! O Heaven, how I

suffer! You are not angry with me, are you? You know that I could not

help going when the wapentake came for me. You will breathe more easily

presently, you will see. Dea, all has been put right. We are going to be

happy. Do not drive me to despair, Dea! I have done nothing to you."

936

The Man Who Laughs