'What has the creature told you?' demanded the newcomer.

'Very little,' said the steward.

'Has she admitted that someone was here this evening?' When the other man shook his head, Armand Salignac rounded on the girl with his eyes blazing. 'You'll tell me everything, Celestine, do you understand — every single thing!'

'There's nothing to tell,' she bleated.

'How dare you lie to me!' he roared. Turning to the steward, he snapped his fingers. 'Strip her naked and whip her until she talks.'

'No!' screamed the girl, shrinking back and covering herself protectively with both arms. 'Please don't hurt me!'

'Then stop deceiving me. I'll not tolerate it. What was the name of the man who visited Madame Salignac this evening?'

'I do not know his name.'

'Ah!' he said with a smirk of grim satisfaction. 'So there was somebody here. We are making progress. Go on, Celestine,' he coaxed. 'Tell me the fellow's name.'

'I do not know it,' she said, tears streaming down her face.

'You must know it. You let him into this house. Letters would have passed between them and you would have carried them. Forget your loyalty to your mistress,' he told her. 'You have a greater loyalty to me. I want his name and you can either yield it up to me or, as God's my witness, I'll flay the skin off your back with my own hand.'

Celestine was trapped. She had been a willing accomplice in the betrayal of her master and he despised her for it. Her only hope of mercy lay in telling him what he wanted.

'Well?' he said quietly. 'What is the man's name?'