Withdismay, the ship's company heard that it was the firm purpose of Robervalto put the offending bride on shore, giving her only the old nurse forcompany, and there to leave her with provisions for three months, trustingto some other vessel to take the exiled women away within that time. Thevery ladies whose love of scandal had first revealed to him the allegedfamiliarities, now besought him with many tears to abandon the thought ofa doom so terrible. Vainly Madame de Noailles implored mercy for the younggirl from a penalty such as was never imposed in any of Madame deScudery's romances; vainly the Huguenot minister and the Catholicchaplain, who had fought steadily on questions of doctrine during thewhole voyage, now united in appeals for pardon. At least they implored himto let the offenders have a man-servant or two with them to protect themagainst wild beasts or buccaneers. He utterly refused until, at lastwearied out, his wild nature yielded to one of those sudden impulses whichwere wont to sweep over it; and he exclaimed, "Is it that they need aman-servant, then? Let this insolent caitiff, Gosselin, be relieved of hisirons and sent on shore. Let him be my niece's servant or, since aHuguenot marriage is as good as any in the presence of bears andbuccaneers, let her call the hound her husband, if she likes.
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