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020 - The Decision · Huguenot- A Tale of the French Protestants

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Speaker 1: Chapter twenty of The Huguenot by George paying Rainsford James.
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Speaker 1: This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter twenty,
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Speaker 1: The Decision. About seven o'clock on the following morning, Giron
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Speaker 1: Riquet entered his master's room on tiptoe, drew the curtains
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Speaker 1: of his bed, and found him leaning on his arm,
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Speaker 1: reading attentively the subject of the count's studies matters not.
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Speaker 1: They were interrupted immediately, for a note which the valet
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Speaker 1: placed in his hands caused him instantly to spring up,
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Speaker 1: to order his horses to be prepared with speed, and
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Speaker 1: to set off for Paris at once, without waiting for
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Speaker 1: the morning meal. The note which caused this sudden expedition
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Speaker 1: contained but a few words. They were, Come to me immediately,
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Speaker 1: if you can, for I have a matter of deep
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Speaker 1: moment on which I wish to speak with you. You
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Speaker 1: must not come, however, to the Hotel de Rufrey, For
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Speaker 1: though it may seem strange in me to name another
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Speaker 1: place to meet you, yet you will find with me
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Speaker 1: one whom you will be surprised to see. I must
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Speaker 1: not then hesitate to ask you to seek me. Towards
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Speaker 1: ten o'clock at number five in the street of the Jacobins.
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Speaker 1: The house is that of a bookbinder, and in the
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Speaker 1: shop you will find Maria. It had no signature, but
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Speaker 1: the handwriting was that of Claiment's. All that had occurred
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Speaker 1: within the last few days had shown the Count de
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Speaker 1: Morseur that the crisis of his fate was approaching, that
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Speaker 1: a very few days, nay a very few hours, might
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Speaker 1: decide the fortune of his future life forever. The multitude
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Speaker 1: of matters which are pressed for his consideration during the
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Speaker 1: two or three preceding days, the various anxieties that he
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Speaker 1: had suffered, the mingling of joy and hope with pain
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Speaker 1: and apprehension, had all created a state of mind in
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Speaker 1: which it was difficult to think calmly of the future. Now, however,
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Speaker 1: he had regained complete mastery of his own mind. The
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Speaker 1: short interval of repose which had taken place had removed
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Speaker 1: all confusion, all agitation from his thoughts, and as he
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Speaker 1: rode on towards Paris, somewhat slowly, finding that there was
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Speaker 1: more than the necessary time to accomplish his journey, he
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Speaker 1: revolved coolly and deliberately in his own mind. The peculiar
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Speaker 1: points in his situation and questioned himself as to his
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Speaker 1: conduct and his duty in regard to each. First, then,
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Speaker 1: of course, came the image of Clement's, and in regard
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Speaker 1: to his love for her and hers for him, there
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Speaker 1: was many a question to be asked, which was answered
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Speaker 1: by his own heart, whether altogether fairly and candidly or not.
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Speaker 1: Those who know love and love's nature can best declare
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Speaker 1: in asking her to fly with him from France, then
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Speaker 1: going to take her from wealth and splendor, and luxury
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Speaker 1: and soft nurture, and all the comforts and conveniences which
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Speaker 1: surrounding her from her earliest years had made to her
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Speaker 1: eyes poverty and difficulty and distress seem but a recorded
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Speaker 1: dream of which she knew nothing but that some men
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Speaker 1: had felt such things. He had to offer her in
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Speaker 1: a foreign land, indeed, competence mere competence. But would competence
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Speaker 1: to her, educated as she had been educated, be anything
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Speaker 1: else than another name for poverty. Even that competence itself
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Speaker 1: might perhaps be insecure, It depended upon the doubtful faith
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Speaker 1: of foreign merchants, from whom he had no security, And
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Speaker 1: if that were gone he had not to depend upon
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Speaker 1: but his sword and a high name in arms could
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Speaker 1: Clayman spare all this, he asked himself. Could the gay,
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Speaker 1: the admired, the adored, endure seclusion and retirement and almost solitude?
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Speaker 1: Could the spoilt child of fortune undergo privation? Could she
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Speaker 1: who had been accustomed but to command to be obeyed
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Speaker 1: be contented with scanty service from foreign servants? Would she
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Speaker 1: never repine? Would she never look back to the bright
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Speaker 1: land of France and think with regret of the high
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Speaker 1: station from which she had voluntarily descended. Would she never,
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Speaker 1: even by one repining thought in the depth of her heart,
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Speaker 1: reproaching for having won her away to share his exile
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Speaker 1: and misery. Would he never see upon her countenance one
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Speaker 1: shadow of sorrow and dissatisfaction when petty cares weighed down
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Speaker 1: the mind made for greater things, when small anxieties and
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Speaker 1: daily discomforts interrupted the current of finer and higher thoughts,
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Speaker 1: or when disrespect and coldness made the sad change felt
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Speaker 1: to her, A whose words the brightest and the best
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Speaker 1: had howled His heart answered no, that none of these
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Speaker 1: things would ever arise to make him feel that he
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Speaker 1: should not have taken her from her high fortunes to
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Speaker 1: share his reverses. What could not love do, he asked
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Speaker 1: himself to brighten the lowliest lot. The grand face of
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Speaker 1: nature would be still before them, inexhaustible as a store
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Speaker 1: of enjoyment. The communion of two high minds, he felt,
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Speaker 1: could never be wanting while they were united. If they
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Speaker 1: retained competence, they had all that was needful, And if
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Speaker 1: for a time worse fell upon them, love would surely
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Speaker 1: be strong enough to excite them to every effort and
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Speaker 1: every exertion, each for the other to cheer, to encourage,
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Speaker 1: to alleviate, and would bring to its own reward. Besides,
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Speaker 1: he remembered that he should never have to reproach himself
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Speaker 1: with having laid claim monster difficulty and to danger, a
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Speaker 1: reproach which, could it have been brought against him by conscience,
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Speaker 1: would have embittered all his joys. For her own situation,
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Speaker 1: her own faith required flight as well as his, and
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Speaker 1: by making her his own, he only secured to her protection, support, affection,
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Speaker 1: and guidance. Such were some of the thoughts which crossed
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Speaker 1: his mind regarding Claiment's. But there was another consideration of
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Speaker 1: more difficulty, a question on which he was less satisfied
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Speaker 1: his fellow Protestants. Throughout the land, and more especially those
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Speaker 1: who looked up to him for aid and for direction.
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Speaker 1: Should he now leave them to their fate, even though
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Speaker 1: he could not avert from them one blow, even though
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Speaker 1: he could not save them from one single pang. Should
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Speaker 1: he not stay to share their lot, to comfort or
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Speaker 1: to fall with them? The question would have to be
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Speaker 1: answered at once. Had they been firm and united amongst themselves.
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Speaker 1: It needed not, indeed, that they should have armed to
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Speaker 1: resist the royal authority against which they had no power
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Speaker 1: to contend. It needed not that they should have attempted
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Speaker 1: to build up the churches which have been thrown down,
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Speaker 1: to replace the ministers who have been ejected, to petition
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Speaker 1: for the restoration of rights which injustice had snatched from them.
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Speaker 1: It needed none of these things that have induced him,
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Speaker 1: without hesitation, to stay and partake of all that might
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Speaker 1: befall them. If they had displayed a resolution of remaining calmly,
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Speaker 1: firmly though peaceably attached to their faith, addressing their prayers
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Speaker 1: to God in private if public worship was forbidden them,
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Speaker 1: and opposing to the iniquitous proceedings of their enemies, That tranquil,
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Speaker 1: steady resistance of endurance, which seldom failed in ultimately repelling attack.
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Speaker 1: Had they so acted, that Count Demoiseau would have had
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Speaker 1: no hesitation. But such was not the case. Even before
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Speaker 1: the last severe measures, which had been recorded in this book,
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Speaker 1: the inconveniences attending their situation, the apprehension of worse and
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Speaker 1: the prospect of immediate gain, had caused annually the conversion
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Speaker 1: of hundreds of the Protestant population of France to the
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Speaker 1: Roman Catholic faith. Nothing like a spirit of union had
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Speaker 1: reigned amongst them for years, and now that danger and
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Speaker 1: persecution fell upon them. Each day brought to the court
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Speaker 1: tidings of thousands upon thousands having at once professed conversion.
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Speaker 1: Each bishop, each intendant sent daily lists of the numbers
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Speaker 1: who had quitted the religion of their fathers to embrace
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Speaker 1: that of the state, And in almost all quarters, those
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Speaker 1: who had courage to sacrifice something for conscience sake were
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Speaker 1: flying from the land or preparing for flight. He too,
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Speaker 1: had to remember that he was himself placed in a
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Speaker 1: situation more difficult to dangerous than the rest. The question
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Speaker 1: was not whether he should remain adhering calmly to his
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Speaker 1: own faith and living in tranquility though under oppression, or
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Speaker 1: should fly to a foreign land. But there was a
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Speaker 1: choice of three acts before him. Whether he should remain
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Speaker 1: to trial and perpetual imprisonment, if not death, or retiring
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Speaker 1: to potu at once raised the standard of hopeless revolt
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Speaker 1: or seek security in another country, leaving those to whom
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Speaker 1: he could render no possible service. The voice of reason
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Speaker 1: certainly said fly, But yet it was painful to him
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Speaker 1: to do so, independent of all thoughts of what he
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Speaker 1: left behind, the dwelling of his infancy, the tombs of
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Speaker 1: his father's, the bright land of his birth. Independent of
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Speaker 1: all this, there was the clinging to his own people,
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Speaker 1: which few can feel deeply, but though circumstanced as he was,
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Speaker 1: which none indeed can feel now. When the last Vessiges
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Speaker 1: had been swept away of a system which, though in
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Speaker 1: no slight degree dangerous and evil, had nevertheless many an
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Speaker 1: amiable and many an admirable point, he loved not to
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Speaker 1: leave them. He loved not to leave any fellow sufferer
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Speaker 1: behind while he provided for his own safety. And though
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Speaker 1: reason told him that on every motive he ought to fly,
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Speaker 1: yet he felt that lingering inclination to remain, which required
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Speaker 1: the voice of others to conquer entirely. Such were the
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Speaker 1: principal questions which his mind had found to discuss during
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Speaker 1: the last two days. But since the preceding night, a
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Speaker 1: new subject for thought had arisen, A new question presented itself. It, however,
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Speaker 1: was not so difficult of solution as the others. A
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Speaker 1: dark attempt upon the king's life, which could hardly have
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Speaker 1: failed of success, had been nearly executed. But that was
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Speaker 1: not all. From ere Val. He had learned that schemes
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Speaker 1: which there was much reason to believe or dangerous to
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Speaker 1: the whole state, were at that moment in agitation, if
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Speaker 1: not upon the point of being accomplished. He left not
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Speaker 1: to be the denouncer of any man, and for Val
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Speaker 1: himself he felt pity mingled with blame, which made him
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Speaker 1: glad that the length of time that had elapsed had
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Speaker 1: given him an opportunity of retiring once more to Poitou.
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Speaker 1: With regard to the proceedings of Atreumont, however, he had
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Speaker 1: no scruple and no hesitation. It was right and necessary
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Speaker 1: that the King should be made acquainted with the fact
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Speaker 1: of dangerous designs being in agitation. And although he was
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Speaker 1: well aware that the task of informing the monarch of
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Speaker 1: the truth would be a difficult and delicate one, so
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Speaker 1: as not to bring the strong and unscrupulous hand of
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Speaker 1: power upon persons who might be innocent and were only
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Speaker 1: accused by the word of a man whom he sincerely
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Speaker 1: believed to be partially insane. Yet he resolved to undertake
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Speaker 1: that task, trusting to the firmness and uprightness of his
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Speaker 1: own character, to ensure that the execution of it should
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Speaker 1: be such as to avoid doing injury to anyone who
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Speaker 1: was not guilty. Men under such circumstances in general r
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Speaker 1: from an inaccuracy or deficiency of statement, proceeding from the
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Speaker 1: confusion and uncertainty of a mind oppressed and agitated by
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Speaker 1: the burthen of important affairs or difficult and intricate circumstances.
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Speaker 1: The Count de Mosseury, however, saw his way clearly, and
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Speaker 1: prepared to tell the King exactly the words which Eval
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Speaker 1: had made use of, but at the same time to
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Speaker 1: inform him that he had much reason to believe that
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Speaker 1: the man was insane, and that therefore that little reliance
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Speaker 1: was to be placed upon his statement, except so far
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Speaker 1: as the employing of precaution might be required. The meditation
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Speaker 1: over all these circumstances fully occupied the time till his
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Speaker 1: arrival in Paris, and dismounting at his own house, he
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Speaker 1: took his way alone and on foot, towards the Rue
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Speaker 1: de Jacobin. The capital at that period had but little
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Speaker 1: of the lightened, graceful architectural beauty which the citizens have
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Speaker 1: since endeavored to give it. But there was instead a gray,
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Speaker 1: mysterious looking grandeur about the vast piles of building of
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Speaker 1: which it was composed, peculiar and entirely characteristic of the
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Speaker 1: French metropolis. The great height of the houses, the smallness
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Speaker 1: in general of the windows, their multitudes, their irregularities, the
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Speaker 1: innumerable carriage entrances leading into court yards where cities and
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Speaker 1: new worlds seemed to be opening on every side. The
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Speaker 1: intricate alleys and passages that were seen branching here and
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Speaker 1: there in unknown directions as the stranger took his way
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Speaker 1: through the streets. Everything, in short, impressed upon the mind
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Speaker 1: as a keen and sensible perception that fact, which, though
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Speaker 1: common to all great capitals, is generally unfelt, that we
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Speaker 1: are walking in the midst of a world of human
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Speaker 1: beings with whom we have scarcely one feeling in sympathy
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Speaker 1: of whose habits character pursuits, pleasures and pains. We are
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Speaker 1: utterly ignorant, who are living, moving, acting, feeling, undergoing life's
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Speaker 1: great ordeal, smiling with rapture, writhing in anguish, melting with
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Speaker 1: the bitter tears of sorrow and regret, inspired by hope,
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Speaker 1: or palpitating with expectation around us on every side, without
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Speaker 1: our having the slightest participation in any of their feelings,
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Speaker 1: with scarcely a knowledge of their existence and certainly none
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Speaker 1: of their situation. It was impossible to walk through the
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Speaker 1: streets of Paris at that time. It was impossible even
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Speaker 1: to walk through the older parts of the city when
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Speaker 1: I myself remember it, without having that sensation strongly excited,
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Speaker 1: without asking what one As one gazed up at the
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Speaker 1: small windows of some of the many tenanted houses and
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Speaker 1: saw the half drawn curtain shading out even the scanty
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Speaker 1: portion of sun that found its way thither, is there
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Speaker 1: sickness or death? Within? Are their tears over the departing
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Speaker 1: couch of the beloved? Is there anguish over the bier
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Speaker 1: of the gone? Without asking oneself? As one gazed at
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Speaker 1: some wide open casement courting the summer air, and perhaps
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Speaker 1: with some light piece of drapery floating out into the street.
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Speaker 1: Is that the abode of love and joy is happy heart?
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Speaker 1: There meeting happy heart, are they smiling over the birth
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Speaker 1: of a firstborn, or watching the glad progress of a
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Speaker 1: young spirit kindred with their own without asking one's self?
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Speaker 1: As the eye rested upon some squalid doorway fowl with
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Speaker 1: uncleaned ages, or some window thick and obscure, with a
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Speaker 1: dust of years, some dim alley, or some dark and
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Speaker 1: loathsome passage, is vice and plunder and iniquity. There is
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Speaker 1: there the feverish joy of sin, mingled with remorse and
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Speaker 1: anguish and apprehension. Is there the wasting and the gnawing
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Speaker 1: effects of vice, sickness and sorrow, worn limbs, corroded heart,
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Speaker 1: nights of restless watchfulness, and days of ceaseless anguish. It
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Speaker 1: was impossible to walk through that tall city, with its
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Speaker 1: myriads living above myriads, house within house, and court within court,
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Speaker 1: without asking oneself such questions, and without feeling that the whole,
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Speaker 1: intense and thrilling reality of the scene was rendered but
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Speaker 1: more striking by the gay and careless multitude that tripped
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Speaker 1: along each seeming scarcely conscious that there was another being
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Speaker 1: in the world but himself. The Count de Morseu was
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Speaker 1: half an hour before his time. He walked somewhat slowly,
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Speaker 1: and in picturing the feelings which a contemplative mind might
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Speaker 1: experience in passing through Paris, we have pictured those which
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Speaker 1: pressed for his attention and crossed from time to time
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Speaker 1: the current of his other thoughts. At length, however, he
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Speaker 1: entered the Rue de Jacobin and easily found the house
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Speaker 1: to which he had been directed. It was a tall
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Speaker 1: building of six stories, with a bookseller's shop upon the
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Speaker 1: ground floor. Very different, indeed, however, was it from a
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Speaker 1: gay dwelling, such as Paris now exhibits, with every new
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Speaker 1: publication in blue and yellow flaming in the windows. But
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Speaker 1: through a small door entrance was obtained into a long,
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Speaker 1: dark shop, where on shelves and in cases, and on
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Speaker 1: benches and on counters were piled up manifold, dusty volumes,
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Speaker 1: whose state of tranquil slumber seemed to have been long undisturbed.
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Speaker 1: A single pale apprentice, with an apron on and a
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Speaker 1: brush in his hand, walked from one end of the
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Speaker 1: shop to the other. Or examined with slow inactivity, the
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Speaker 1: sheets of some unbound work work, moving about his task
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Speaker 1: with the same indifference to its speedy execution as if
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Speaker 1: the years of Methuselah were bound up in his indentures.
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Speaker 1: The count looked at the shop well to ascertain that
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Speaker 1: he was right, and then entered. But in the long
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Speaker 1: vista of the Countess and packages, the person he sought
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Speaker 1: for was not to be seen, And, not having contemplated
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Speaker 1: such an occurrence, he was somewhat embarrassed as to the
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Speaker 1: person he should ask for. To have inquired whether a
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Speaker 1: lady were waiting for him there or not might perhaps
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Speaker 1: have been received as an insult by the master of
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Speaker 1: the house. And yet he thought it would be imprudent
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Speaker 1: to risk the name of Clements de Marlis, when she
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Speaker 1: herself might not have given it. He felt sure that
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Speaker 1: had she arrived, her attendant Maria, would have been at
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Speaker 1: the post where she had promised to place her, And
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Speaker 1: in order to occupy the time till she came, he
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Speaker 1: determined to ask for some book and then enter into
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Speaker 1: desultory conversation with the lad in a shop. After having
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Speaker 1: aught it, he had scarcely spoken, However, when from behind
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Speaker 1: a pile of solid literature, which obscured still farther the
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Speaker 1: end of the shop. The servant Maria came forth and
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Speaker 1: advanced towards him. The matter was then easily explained, and
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Speaker 1: the youth seemed in no degree surprised at the appointment,
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Speaker 1: but proceeded to tie up the book which the count
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Speaker 1: had demanded, while Maria told him that her young lady
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Speaker 1: had only just arrived and was waiting for him upstairs.
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Speaker 1: He followed her with a rapid step as she led
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Speaker 1: the way, and at the third turning of a long, dim,
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Speaker 1: narrow staircase, he found Clement's waiting at a door and
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Speaker 1: listening as if for his arrival. There was something in
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Speaker 1: the meeting, under such circumstances, which did away all feelings
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Speaker 1: of reserve, such as perhaps might otherwise have still affected
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Speaker 1: them towards each other, and Claimant's feeling that she was
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Speaker 1: all his, that their fate was united forever felt scarcely
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Speaker 1: a blush rise into her cheek when he at once
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Speaker 1: pressed her to his heart upon their meeting. She spoke not, however,
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Speaker 1: but held up her finger as if to enjoin silence,
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Speaker 1: and then let him through a little anteroom into a
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Speaker 1: room beyond. There, seated at a table with some books
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Speaker 1: scattered upon it, appeared the good pastor of Uron, Claude
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Speaker 1: de l'estung. He was thinner, paler, more worn than when
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Speaker 1: we first endeavored to depict him. But the light was
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Speaker 1: not gone out. In the clear bright eye, the same
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Speaker 1: mild but intelligent smile hung upon the lip, the same
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Speaker 1: high spirit was thrown upon the brow. He rose and
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Speaker 1: grasped the young Count's hands eagerly. Oh, my dear Albert,
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Speaker 1: he said, I am glad to see you, this sweet child.
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Speaker 1: He added, after the first exclamation, wrote to me all
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Speaker 1: that was between you and her, She is dear to
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Speaker 1: my heart as if she were my own, And is
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Speaker 1: she not my own? Did I not bring her back
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Speaker 1: to the faith of her dear mother? Did I not
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Speaker 1: rescue her from the evils of a corrupt, perverted church?
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Speaker 1: But of that we will speak not now, Albert, the
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Speaker 1: moment I heard of it, the moment I heard that
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Speaker 1: you were here, and to cast yourself, as it were,
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Speaker 1: into the jaws of the lion. After the fatal night,
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Speaker 1: when that murderous, youth like pilot mingled our blood with
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Speaker 1: our sacrifices, I resolved at once to make my way
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Speaker 1: hither at all, and any risks to speak to you,
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Speaker 1: to exhort you, to tell you what I have decided
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Speaker 1: in my own mind is the only plan for you
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Speaker 1: to follow. I thought, indeed, when I set out, notwithstanding
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Speaker 1: all that has occurred since you left Pootu, notwithstanding the
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Speaker 1: scattering of the sheep, and the driving forth of the shepherd,
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Speaker 1: and the falling off of many, and the wavering of
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Speaker 1: all the rest, I thought that here I might learn
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Speaker 1: tidings which might make a change in my opinion. But
21:58
Speaker 1: that at all events it was right for me to
22:01
Speaker 1: come in order that I might consult with you and
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Speaker 1: others and take our last final determination together. But since
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Speaker 1: I have heard from this dear child, the situation in
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Speaker 1: which you are placed, since I have heard from a
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Speaker 1: weak brother who has outwardly abdured the faith which he
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Speaker 1: fondly clings to in his heart, things that you yourself
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Speaker 1: do not know, my opinion has been confirmed to the
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Speaker 1: fullest extent. And I have only to say to you, Albert, fly,
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Speaker 1: fly with her, immediately, safer from persecution and anguish and care.
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Speaker 1: Confirm her in the only true faith, and in the
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Speaker 1: renunciation of every superstitious vanity of the Church of Rome.
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Speaker 1: Strengthen her, support her, protect her, lose no time, no,
22:47
Speaker 1: not a day, for if you do, danger to both,
22:51
Speaker 1: and perhaps everlasting separation in this world may be the consequence.
22:58
Speaker 1: I am most ready and most willing, replied the Count.
23:01
Speaker 1: It is absolutely necessary, indeed, that I should return to Versailles,
23:05
Speaker 1: but only for a few hours. After that I can
23:08
Speaker 1: return hither and without further delay, execute what I am
23:12
Speaker 1: fully convinced is the only plan for us to pursue.
23:16
Speaker 1: It is the only plan, said the clergyman. Are you aware, Albert,
23:20
Speaker 1: that in the short space of five days, one half
23:24
Speaker 1: of the Protestants of Poitou have bent the knee to
23:27
Speaker 1: bal Are you aware that the very men who a
23:30
Speaker 1: week ago clung to you for aid and protection would
23:33
Speaker 1: now fly from you, either in shame at their own degeneracy,
23:37
Speaker 1: or because you are marked out for indignation by the
23:40
Speaker 1: powers that be. Yes, Albert, they would fly from you.
23:44
Speaker 1: There is a remnant, indeed, faithful and true until the last.
23:47
Speaker 1: But to them I shall say, as I say to you,
23:50
Speaker 1: they must go forth to other lands and shake off
23:53
Speaker 1: the dust from their feet as a testimony against this place.
23:57
Speaker 1: There is nothing left you, Albert, but fly right, and
24:00
Speaker 1: that speedy and unhesitating. I have told you that I
24:04
Speaker 1: have heard much from a weak brother whose renunciation of
24:07
Speaker 1: his faith weighs heavy upon him. He is in the confidence,
24:11
Speaker 1: it would seem, of those who rule. And he has
24:14
Speaker 1: informed me that it is the determination of the monarch
24:17
Speaker 1: and his counsel never to let you quit the court
24:20
Speaker 1: of France, except as a follower of the Popish Church
24:22
Speaker 1: of Rome. Every temptation is to be held out to
24:26
Speaker 1: you to make you yield. Every man is used to
24:29
Speaker 1: drive you on the way they want. And should your
24:32
Speaker 1: resistance become strong and decided, the order for your arrest
24:36
Speaker 1: is already made out, and needs but one word to
24:39
Speaker 1: cause its execution. Fly then fly, Albert, And even if
24:43
Speaker 1: not for your own sake, for hers, I am most willing,
24:47
Speaker 1: my good friend, replied the Count. I need no exhortation
24:51
Speaker 1: to do so. But is Clament still willing to go
24:55
Speaker 1: with me? Can you doubt it, Albert, she said, with
24:59
Speaker 1: his probation and advice. Yet, dear Clement, said the Count,
25:04
Speaker 1: I should be wrong were I not to tell you
25:07
Speaker 1: what may happen, the danger, the risk of our escape,
25:11
Speaker 1: the fatigues and labors, and anxieties of the journey, the
25:14
Speaker 1: perils that await us at every step, that you have
25:17
Speaker 1: made up your mind to. But Clement's, have you thought
25:20
Speaker 1: of the change from affluence to mere competence, from splendid
25:24
Speaker 1: and luxury, to bear necessaries, even perhaps to poverty itself?
25:30
Speaker 1: For all I have on earth depends upon the good
25:32
Speaker 1: faith of those to whom I have transmitted it, and
25:35
Speaker 1: I might arrive and find nothing. Have you thought of
25:39
Speaker 1: all this? Have you thought that it may last for years,
25:42
Speaker 1: that we may have to live and die and bring
25:45
Speaker 1: up our children in poverty? Out upon it, Albert exclaimed
25:51
Speaker 1: the old man angrily. Would that take the part of
25:53
Speaker 1: the prince of this world against her better angel? But
25:57
Speaker 1: she will not, doubt, she will not waver. I know
26:01
Speaker 1: she will not sooner than be a hypocrite, sooner than
26:05
Speaker 1: abandoned troth and embrace error. She will cast herself upon
26:09
Speaker 1: the world were it ten thousand times as bad out
26:13
Speaker 1: upon it she fears not. She will have her husband
26:16
Speaker 1: and her faith and her God to support her. I
26:20
Speaker 1: have not thought of all you suggest, Albert replied Clemence,
26:24
Speaker 1: more mildly, but still somewhat reproachfully, I have not thought
26:28
Speaker 1: of them because it was unnecessary to think of them
26:30
Speaker 1: at all. Do not love me, Albert? Do I not
26:34
Speaker 1: love you? Is not that love riches and splendor and
26:38
Speaker 1: luxury enough for us. But when, besides that all sufficient love,
26:43
Speaker 1: we have the knowledge that we are doing our duty,
26:46
Speaker 1: that we are suffering for our conscience sake, that we
26:49
Speaker 1: have left all to follow what we believe the dictates
26:52
Speaker 1: of the great author of our faith, there will be
26:55
Speaker 1: a satisfaction, a pride, a glory that even a woman's
26:59
Speaker 1: heart can feel. Fear not for me, Albert, I understand
27:03
Speaker 1: your scruples, and though they require forgiveness, I forgive them.
27:07
Speaker 1: Let us be guided by his advice. I am sure
27:10
Speaker 1: that it is good, and I am willing most willing
27:13
Speaker 1: to risk all and everything under such circumstances and for
27:17
Speaker 1: such a cause. Well, then so be it, said the Count.
27:22
Speaker 1: Let us consider our decision as made this very night. Claimence,
27:26
Speaker 1: I will return to Paris this very night. I will
27:29
Speaker 1: meet you here. But, oh, my good friend, he continued,
27:33
Speaker 1: turning to the pastor you, whom I love and venerators
27:36
Speaker 1: of Father, you will easily understand what I feel when
27:39
Speaker 1: I say that I could wish most anxiously that this
27:42
Speaker 1: dear girl, who is to accompany me through scenes of
27:45
Speaker 1: some peril, were united to me before we depart, not
27:49
Speaker 1: alone by the bonds of deep and true affection, not
27:52
Speaker 1: alone by the bonds of all the mutual promises and
27:55
Speaker 1: engagements which man and woman complied towards each other, but
27:59
Speaker 1: by the sanction of that holy religion which first instituted
28:03
Speaker 1: such a union, and by the blessing of one of
28:05
Speaker 1: the ministers of Christ. I fear, however, it cannot be done. Nay,
28:10
Speaker 1: my son, it can replied the clergyman expelled from our temples,
28:15
Speaker 1: debarred from the performance of all those ceremonial rites, which
28:18
Speaker 1: are but the shadows and types of higher things. The
28:22
Speaker 1: abandonment of such ceremonies, as we cannot exercise, can in
28:26
Speaker 1: no degree, either in the sight of Man or of God,
28:29
Speaker 1: as long as the side of law or justice is considered,
28:33
Speaker 1: affect the validity of such a contract, or do away
28:36
Speaker 1: in the slightest degree the solemn legality of a union
28:39
Speaker 1: complete in all the forms which we are enabled to
28:42
Speaker 1: give it. Even were it not so, I have power
28:45
Speaker 1: delegated to me by the Synod of our Church, without
28:49
Speaker 1: application to higher authorities, whose approbation for many years would
28:53
Speaker 1: have been difficult and embarrassing to obtain, to perform all
28:57
Speaker 1: the ceremonies of the Church upon due knowledge certified by me,
29:01
Speaker 1: that they are not contrary in the particular cases, to
29:04
Speaker 1: the law of God or to those just ordinances of
29:07
Speaker 1: Man to which we have ourselves subscribed. If you desire it,
29:11
Speaker 1: and if Clement's is willing, I will this very night,
29:14
Speaker 1: before you depart, give my blessing to your union. And
29:18
Speaker 1: doubt not that with my certificate thereof witness by proper witnesses,
29:23
Speaker 1: that union will be held good by the Protestant Church
29:26
Speaker 1: throughout the world. Then I fear not exclaimed the count.
29:31
Speaker 1: What do you say, dear clements, can you resolve upon this? Also? Speak,
29:35
Speaker 1: dear girl, he added, as she paused in silence, covering
29:39
Speaker 1: her eyes with her hand. Speak or speak? What should
29:44
Speaker 1: I say? Albert? She said? Do you dream that I
29:47
Speaker 1: would refuse? Do you suppose that I would reject the
29:50
Speaker 1: only thing which was wanting to give me confidence and
29:53
Speaker 1: strength and hope through all the perils that we may
29:56
Speaker 1: have to undergo. Albert gazed on her with a lo
30:00
Speaker 1: look that thanked her to the full, and after a
30:02
Speaker 1: brief moment given to happiness, he asked, but who shall
30:06
Speaker 1: be the witnesses? Noria must be one, said Clement, for she,
30:10
Speaker 1: of course goes with us. One of my servants may
30:13
Speaker 1: be another, said the Count, But it is better to
30:16
Speaker 1: have several. The master of this house and his son,
30:21
Speaker 1: said Claude de l'astan, will make up a number more
30:24
Speaker 1: than sufficient. And all that remains, Albert, is for you
30:27
Speaker 1: to go and settle your affairs at Versailles, and return
30:30
Speaker 1: hither as soon as you may, though I wish indeed
30:34
Speaker 1: that it were possible for you not to go back
30:36
Speaker 1: to that place at all. Indeed, it is quite necessary,
30:40
Speaker 1: replied the Count, not contemplating this meeting. I have left
30:44
Speaker 1: all the little sore of wealth which I brought with
30:46
Speaker 1: me from Poitou in my house at Versailles. It is
30:50
Speaker 1: impossible to send for without causing instant suspicion, and it
30:54
Speaker 1: is absolutely necessary, not only for the expenses of the journey,
30:58
Speaker 1: but in order to secure some little son for our
31:00
Speaker 1: subsistence for a year or two, in case we shall
31:03
Speaker 1: find that, either by misfortune or by fraud, the money
31:07
Speaker 1: which I transmitted to Holland is not forthcoming, it is
31:12
Speaker 1: indeed most necessary, said Claude de L'As than. I have
31:16
Speaker 1: heard that one of our poor ministers, who was banished
31:19
Speaker 1: some years ago from Languedoc, suffered most terribly in foreign
31:23
Speaker 1: lands before he could gain employment. But I can bring
31:28
Speaker 1: me my share, exclaimed Clement, her eyes sparkling with gladness.
31:32
Speaker 1: I have a number of jewels of different kinds, many
31:35
Speaker 1: purchased in other days with my own money, many given
31:38
Speaker 1: me by friends of my youth long years ago. They
31:42
Speaker 1: have cost, I know, in all, many thousand livres. These
31:47
Speaker 1: are my own, and I will take them with me.
31:49
Speaker 1: Those that I have received from the Duke and Duchess
31:52
Speaker 1: and other Roman Catholic friends, I shall leave to be
31:55
Speaker 1: given back to them again. Do so, do so, said
31:59
Speaker 1: the pastor. There are some people, my dear child, who
32:02
Speaker 1: would wring a text from Scripture to bid you do
32:05
Speaker 1: the contrary, telling you to spoil the Egyptians. But I
32:08
Speaker 1: think that such injunctions as that must never be applicable
32:12
Speaker 1: to particular cases alone, and the application must be made
32:16
Speaker 1: by God himself. I say, leave all that is not
32:20
Speaker 1: justly and absolutely your own. Leave all that those who
32:24
Speaker 1: gave it would not give now if they could see
32:27
Speaker 1: the use to which you are going to apply it.
32:30
Speaker 1: We shall rarely regret, my child, if ever, having been
32:33
Speaker 1: too just, we shall never cease to regret if we
32:36
Speaker 1: are once unjust. The Count de Morseur had remarked that
32:41
Speaker 1: through the whole of this conversation the Pastor had never
32:44
Speaker 1: once mentioned himself or his own plans. It might, however,
32:48
Speaker 1: seem that he left it to be understood that he
32:51
Speaker 1: too was about to fly from the land. But the
32:54
Speaker 1: Count de Morseur knew him well and was aware that
32:57
Speaker 1: he was one of those who would resolutely affirm he
33:00
Speaker 1: placed himself in the way of perils which he would
33:03
Speaker 1: teach others to avoid. He did not choose even to
33:06
Speaker 1: suppose that the Pastor was about to remain in the
33:09
Speaker 1: land which he advised them to quit, And he therefore demanded,
33:13
Speaker 1: at what hour, my good friend, will you be ready
33:16
Speaker 1: to give us your blessing and to go with us?
33:19
Speaker 1: My son replied the Pastor, I will give my blessing
33:22
Speaker 1: on your union at any hour you like, for I
33:26
Speaker 1: dare not go out during the day, but alas I
33:29
Speaker 1: must not think of going with you, I say not
33:32
Speaker 1: that I will not come hereafter, if Heaven enable me
33:35
Speaker 1: to do so. But it must be after I have
33:38
Speaker 1: seen every one of my flock who is willing to
33:40
Speaker 1: sacrifice temporal to eternal things in safety in another land
33:44
Speaker 1: before me. Nay, nay, Albert, he said, seeing the Count
33:48
Speaker 1: about to reply, urge me not in this matter, for
33:51
Speaker 1: I am sure, I am right, And when such is
33:54
Speaker 1: the case, I must be immovable. As soon as all
33:58
Speaker 1: who are willing to go are gone, I will obey
34:01
Speaker 1: the injunction of the King which orders the pastors and
34:04
Speaker 1: ministers of our church to quit the realm immediately. Indeed,
34:09
Speaker 1: exclaimed the Count. Has such an order been issued? I
34:12
Speaker 1: never heard of it, you, hear, my son. Very little here,
34:16
Speaker 1: replied the old man. Care is taken to keep unpleasant
34:20
Speaker 1: sights from the eyes of kings and courtiers. Pomp and
34:24
Speaker 1: pageantry and display, luxury and feasting, and music and games
34:29
Speaker 1: and revelry. They are the things for palaces and capitals,
34:33
Speaker 1: not the groans and tears of the wrong and injured,
34:37
Speaker 1: not the cries and murmurs of the oppressed. Some days
34:40
Speaker 1: have passed since the order appeared throughout all the provinces,
34:44
Speaker 1: and many of my brethren have already obeyed. I will
34:48
Speaker 1: obey it too, But not till the last, oh, cried Clement.
34:54
Speaker 1: Dear and excellent friend, Do not do not expose yourself
34:58
Speaker 1: too far. Remember how much we may need your counsel
35:01
Speaker 1: and assistance hereafter. Remember what a stay and support your
35:05
Speaker 1: presence may be to the whole of your flock. In
35:08
Speaker 1: other lands, those who do not fulfill their duties now claimants,
35:13
Speaker 1: said the pastor, upon the pretext of fulfilling them better hereafter,
35:17
Speaker 1: will fulfill none at all, my child, But say no
35:21
Speaker 1: more either of you. My determination is strong and fixed.
35:25
Speaker 1: And now, Albert, he added, with a faint smile, find
35:28
Speaker 1: some way of measuring her finger for the ring that
35:30
Speaker 1: is to make her yours. And if you could get
35:33
Speaker 1: some friendly notary to draw up a regular contract of
35:36
Speaker 1: marriage between you against this evening, all would be complete.
35:41
Speaker 1: Albert of Mosseau took the fair hand of his promised bride,
35:45
Speaker 1: which she gave him with a blushing cheek, to measure
35:48
Speaker 1: it for the ring that twas to be the symbol
35:50
Speaker 1: of their union. Upon the very finger was that ring
35:53
Speaker 1: which he had rescued for her when it had been
35:56
Speaker 1: taken away by the bad of er Val, the coronet,
35:59
Speaker 1: and the cipher in diamonds. And as he gazed upon
36:03
Speaker 1: it and tried it on his own finger to judge
36:05
Speaker 1: of the size, a brief feeling of curiosity passed through
36:09
Speaker 1: his heart, and he thought, this, indeed is strange. I
36:13
Speaker 1: am about to wed one of whose history and fate
36:16
Speaker 1: and circumstances both I, myself, and almost everyone around me
36:20
Speaker 1: are ignorant. He lifted his look to her face. However,
36:24
Speaker 1: while he thus thought, those large, pure, beautiful eyes were
36:28
Speaker 1: gazing upon him with tenderness and trust, and replacing the
36:32
Speaker 1: ring upon her finger, he sealed his faith and confidence
36:35
Speaker 1: upon that fair hand with a kiss. End of Chapter
36:40
Speaker 1: twenty