"It is evident to me," she said, "that you are three impostors."
If she had struck me across the face with her delicate hand she could not have startled me more. It was not her words only, but the bitterness with which she hissed them out.
"Indeed, madame," said I. "You do us less than justice. These are the Colonel Despienne and Captain Tremeau. For myself, my name is Brigadier Gerard, and I have only to mention it to assure anyone who has heard of me that"
"Oh, you villains!" she interrupted. "You think that because I am only a woman I am very easily to be hoodwinked! You miserable impostors!"
I looked at Despienne, who had turned white with anger, and at Tremeau, who was tugging at his moustache.
"Madame," said I, coldly, "when the Emperor did us the honour to intrust us with this mission, he gave me this amethyst ring as a token. I had not thought that three honourable gentlemen would have needed such corroboration, but I can only confute your unworthy suspicions by placing it in your hands."
She held it up in the light of the carriage lamp, and the most dreadful expression of grief and of horror contorted her face.
