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031 - The Lovers' Reunion · Huguenot- A Tale of the French Protestants

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  Speaker 1: Chapter thirty one of The Huguenot by George Payne Rainsford James.
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  Speaker 1: This Librivoxhire cording is in the public domain, Chapter thirty one,
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  Speaker 1: The Lover's Reunion. The march was over, the pursuers left behind,
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  Speaker 1: and the Count of Morseilles had pitched his tents in
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  Speaker 1: a strong position, with some shepherd's huts and one or
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  Speaker 1: two cottages and farm houses in the midst of his camp.
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  Speaker 1: A nunnery of no great extent, situated upon a little eminence,
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  Speaker 1: was within the limits of his position, and a small
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  Speaker 1: chapel belonging thereon too, Nearly at the bottom of the
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  Speaker 1: hill and commanding the passage of a stream and morass,
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  Speaker 1: was occupied by a strong body of his followers under
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  Speaker 1: Erval and Verlais, while the Marquis du Bard, who had
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  Speaker 1: been slightly wounded in the course of that day's strife,
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  Speaker 1: insisted upon fixing his quarters on the most exposed side
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  Speaker 1: of the camp, where any attack was likely to take place.
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  Speaker 1: No attempt had been made to take possession of the nunnery,
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  Speaker 1: as it was only occupied by women, and as the
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  Speaker 1: Count was aware that in case of need, he could
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  Speaker 1: obtain entrance in a moment. At the same time, he
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  Speaker 1: could fully depend not only upon the courage and firmness,
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  Speaker 1: but upon the vigilance of Dubar, and he therefore looked
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  Speaker 1: upon his small force as completely in security. Provisions too,
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  Speaker 1: had been found in abundance, and the people of the
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  Speaker 1: neighboring country were somewhat better disposed towards the Huguenot cause
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  Speaker 1: than those of the district which they had just left.
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  Speaker 1: His men, however, had suffered tremendously even in the brief
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  Speaker 1: struggle which had taken place with the overpowering force of
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  Speaker 1: the Catholics. Of his own troop, not more than thirty
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  Speaker 1: men were found capable of action at the end of
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  Speaker 1: that day, and at least one third of the whole
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  Speaker 1: Huguenot force was unfit for service. This was a lamentable prospect,
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  Speaker 1: as the insurgents had no points of strength fall back upon,
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  Speaker 1: and had not the leaders been animated by the consciousness
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  Speaker 1: of having performed great actions in that day's contest, and
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  Speaker 1: having held o bade the Royal Army, with a force
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  Speaker 1: six times inferior in number, the proposal of dispersing and
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  Speaker 1: carrying on the warfare by desultory efforts in the woods,
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  Speaker 1: which was suggested in one of their little councils, would
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  Speaker 1: certainly have been adopted. In the meantime, however, the spirit
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  Speaker 1: of the men was kept up and their resolution fortified
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  Speaker 1: by the prayers and exhortations of the various ministers who
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  Speaker 1: accompanied the camp, and on going round to the different
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  Speaker 1: quarters just after nightfall, the count found some bodies of
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  Speaker 1: the Protestants still engaged in their religious exercises, some just concluded,
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  Speaker 1: but all less depressed at heart than he was himself.
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  Speaker 1: When he had done his round, he paused before the
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  Speaker 1: door of one of the farmhouses, the best and most comfortable,
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  Speaker 1: and dismissing the men who had followed to enter. There
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  Speaker 1: was a slight degree of hesitation, however, seemed to come
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  Speaker 1: over him as he did so, and he remained for
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  Speaker 1: some moments with his hand upon the latch. He at
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  Speaker 1: length raised it and entered the kitchen of the farmhouse,
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  Speaker 1: where the family of the proprietor assembled round the ample hearth,
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  Speaker 1: on which was a full supply of blazing wood at
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  Speaker 1: that very moment. Speaking to the mistress of the house
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  Speaker 1: was Clemance's attendant, Maria, But Clemence herself was not present,
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  Speaker 1: and on inquiring for her, the Count was told that
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  Speaker 1: she was in an upper chamber, to which the woman
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  Speaker 1: immediately led him. Albert of Morseaux followed her step by step,
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  Speaker 1: and when the door is opened, he saw Clement sitting
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  Speaker 1: at the table, with her head resting on her hand,
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  Speaker 1: and her eyes turned towards the fire, but with such
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  Speaker 1: a look of deep sadness and painful thought as made
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  Speaker 1: his heart ache to see and to know that he
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  Speaker 1: could not change it. Here is, the Count, said the maid,
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  Speaker 1: and instantly Clement started up and turned towards the door.
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  Speaker 1: While the Count entered and the maid retired, the face
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  Speaker 1: of Clement de Marlis assumed two or three different expressions
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  Speaker 1: in a moment. There was joy to see him, there
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  Speaker 1: was doubt, there is apprehension. But she advanced towards him
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  Speaker 1: at once, and the look of love was not to
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  Speaker 1: be doubted. He took the hands that she held out
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  Speaker 1: to him. He kissed them tenderly and often, but still
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  Speaker 1: there was deep sadness on his brow, as there was
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  Speaker 1: in his heart, and his first words were, oh, Clement,
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  Speaker 1: at what a moment you have come to me at last, Albert.
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  Speaker 1: She said in reply, I have much to say to you.
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  Speaker 1: Since I have been here and see what I have seen,
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  Speaker 1: I have found many excuses for your conduct, and I
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  Speaker 1: have learned to think that what I wrote briefly, I
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  Speaker 1: may have written harshly and unkindly, and to blame myself
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  Speaker 1: as much name more than you, believing. Though I had
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  Speaker 1: no time to explain why I could not come at
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  Speaker 1: the moment as I could have wished, yet that I
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  Speaker 1: should still have added such words as might show you
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  Speaker 1: that I was yours unchanged, however much I might judge
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  Speaker 1: that you had acted rashly, unadvisedly, and unlike yourself. I
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  Speaker 1: have determined to tell you all this at once, Albert,
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  Speaker 1: and acknowledging that I blame myself, to shelter myself from
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  Speaker 1: all reproaches on your part in your kindness and generosity.
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  Speaker 1: Thanks thanks, dearest, Clamence, replied the count, pressing her to
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  Speaker 1: his heart. This is indeed balm after such a day
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  Speaker 1: as this. But I think, my Clemence, when you hear all,
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  Speaker 1: you will yourself exculpate me from blame. Though I fear
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  Speaker 1: that the charge of ingratitude which others may bring against
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  Speaker 1: me will never be done away. In the less generous
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  Speaker 1: minds of the world in general, without a terrible sacrifice. You,
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  Speaker 1: I know, Clemence, will believe every word I tell you,
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  Speaker 1: Oh every word she exclaimed. To doubt you, Albert, were
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  Speaker 1: to doubt truth itself, well, then believe claimants, he said,
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  Speaker 1: when I tell you that till this morning, till this
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  Speaker 1: very morning, I had not the slightest idea whatsoever that
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  Speaker 1: my liberation was attributable to the king. Not only I,
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  Speaker 1: but all my domestics, every attendant that I have, my
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  Speaker 1: man Riquet himself all believed that it was through an
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  Speaker 1: artifice of his that I had been set at liberty.
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  Speaker 1: Had I thought otherwise, upon my word, my first act
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  Speaker 1: would have been to flight of Versailles to express my thanks,
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  Speaker 1: whatever my after conduct might have been. He then explained
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  Speaker 1: to her everything that had taken place, and the mistake
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  Speaker 1: under which he had himself labored throughout. What confirmed me
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  Speaker 1: in the belief that the whole of Riquet's story was
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  Speaker 1: perfectly correct, he said, was the fact that Besmo, when
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  Speaker 1: he set me at liberty, observed that the order under
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  Speaker 1: which he did it was not quite the usual form,
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  Speaker 1: together with some remarks that he made upon there being
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  Speaker 1: no carriage sent for me with the order Alas Alas
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  Speaker 1: cried clament, wringing her hands. It was my weakness, It
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  Speaker 1: was my foolish fears and anxieties that produced all this mischief.
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  Speaker 1: Listen to my tale now, Albert, and forgive me, forgive
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  Speaker 1: me for what I have done. She then related to
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  Speaker 1: her lover almost all that had taken place between the King,
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  Speaker 1: herself and Madame de Maintenon. We say almost, because she
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  Speaker 1: did not relate the whole. But though Albert of Morseu
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  Speaker 1: saw it, he divined from what she did. Tell that
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  Speaker 1: there were matters which she was bound not to divulge.
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  Speaker 1: Perhaps he divined the important truth himself, and at all
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  Speaker 1: events he did not love her a bit, the less
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  Speaker 1: for of concealment, which had no want of confidence in it.
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  Speaker 1: On the following morning, she said, at the hour that
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  Speaker 1: the King had appointed, I did not fail to beg
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  Speaker 1: in attendance. I found him writing, but it was soon over,
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  Speaker 1: and he handed me the paper, saying, there, lady, we
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  Speaker 1: have judged the cause that you have at heart as
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  Speaker 1: favorably as you judged ours last night. Tell him, he added,
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  Speaker 1: when you see him, that though we cannot alter the
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  Speaker 1: strict laws which we have found it necessary to make
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  Speaker 1: for his sake. We will grant him all that may
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  Speaker 1: reasonably make him happy, either in our own land or
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  Speaker 1: in another. And I have borne arms against him, cried
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  Speaker 1: the Count, clasping his arms together. Yet hear me out.
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  Speaker 1: Albert continued, Claymoen's for the fault is mine. The order
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  Speaker 1: was for your immediate liberation. I took it eagerly, thanked
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  Speaker 1: the King, and retired, well knowing that it ought to
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  Speaker 1: be counter signed by Louvois and sent through his office.
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  Speaker 1: But during the evening before, on the occasion of something
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  Speaker 1: that was said, he gave me such a fiendlike look
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  Speaker 1: of revenge that I knew he would seek your destruction
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  Speaker 1: if not my I was well aware too, that in
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  Speaker 1: many an instance he has interrupted the King's curency or
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  Speaker 1: his bounty. And weakly, most weakly, I sent the order
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  Speaker 1: without his signature, Aye, and without a moment's delay by
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  Speaker 1: a servant belonging to the Duke de Rouvrey. Thus, thus
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  Speaker 1: it was that I, in my eagerness for your safety,
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  Speaker 1: have plunged you into new dangers, dangers from which, alas
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  Speaker 1: I fear that there is scarcely a possible means of escape.
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  Speaker 1: The Count looked down upon the ground for a moment,
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  Speaker 1: and he then replied, I will write to the King myself, Claiment's.
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  Speaker 1: It is very possible that he will not even read
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  Speaker 1: the letter of a rebel with arms in his hand,
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  Speaker 1: but still it will be a satisfaction to me to
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  Speaker 1: do so. I must first get to the seaside, however,
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  Speaker 1: in order that I may place poor Riquet in security.
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  Speaker 1: For where the tale told and he afterwards discovered. I
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  Speaker 1: fear that no tortures were be considered too horrible to
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  Speaker 1: punish the daring act that he committed. I too, will write,
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  Speaker 1: replied Clement. I will write and tell the hole to
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  Speaker 1: one who, though she will refuse at first I know,
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  Speaker 1: to do anything on our behalf, yet will not fail
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  Speaker 1: calmly and quietly to labor in our favor. Thinking that
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  Speaker 1: she owes something to me, I will tell her the whole.
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  Speaker 1: I will tell her distinctly, Albert, and if you will
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  Speaker 1: procure it for me, I will send her even the
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  Speaker 1: forged order that you mention, with the attestation of the
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  Speaker 1: man who brought it back from Paris. Albert of Morseux
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  Speaker 1: pressed her to his heart, and she added, at all events, Albert,
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  Speaker 1: we shall be able to fly. We are now not
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  Speaker 1: far from the sea. Ships can easily be procured, and
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  Speaker 1: we may be happy in another land. Albert of Morseux
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  Speaker 1: kissed her cheek for his only reply, but his heart
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  Speaker 1: was sad, and he could scarcely command even a smile
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  Speaker 1: to countenance of Fal's hope. She had expressed. His own
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  Speaker 1: determinations were taken, his own resolutions formed, but he thought
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  Speaker 1: it better and more kind not to make them known
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  Speaker 1: to claimant's de marlis till the moment arrive for putting
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  Speaker 1: them in execution. While they were yet speaking, the attendant
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  Speaker 1: again came into the room to inform the count that
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  Speaker 1: three persons waited below to see him, and on going down,
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  Speaker 1: he found Luquet with one of the Protestants attached to
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  Speaker 1: the Marquis du bar and a gentleman who appeared to
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  Speaker 1: be an inferior officer in the royal service. The latter
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  Speaker 1: two instantly stepped forward when he appeared. Monsieur Dubars said,
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  Speaker 1: the Protestant soldier has sent you this gentleman bearing a
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  Speaker 1: flag of truce from the Chevalier de Fronde. He carries
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  Speaker 1: a letter to yourself and a letter to the lady
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  Speaker 1: from Touar. The Count bowed to the stranger and begged
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  Speaker 1: to see the letter to himself. It was simply addressed
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  Speaker 1: to the Count de Monseur, and he opened it with
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  Speaker 1: some emotion, for it was strange to see the hand
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  Speaker 1: of Louis de France writing to him, as from one
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  Speaker 1: adversary to another. The style and tone of the letter, however,
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  Speaker 1: though it was very short, were precisely as if nothing
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  Speaker 1: had occurred to interrupt the intimacy or array them hostilely
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  Speaker 1: against each other. It ran, Dear Albert, I write to
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  Speaker 1: you simply to know whether I am to regard that
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  Speaker 1: the communication made to me on your part by an
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  Speaker 1: English gentleman called Sir Thomas Cecil as formal and definitive,
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  Speaker 1: as I must be made aware of that fact before
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  Speaker 1: I can transmit it to the court. I trust and
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  Speaker 1: hope that good results may proceed from it, but you
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  Speaker 1: must not forget that it is an awful risk. For
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  Speaker 1: my part. I will do my best to quiet the
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  Speaker 1: province with as little harshness as possible, and with that
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  Speaker 1: object I accept it, or rather may say, solicited his
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  Speaker 1: command in every respect. However, my duty must be done
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  Speaker 1: to the king, and shall be so done to the utmost.
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  Speaker 1: You never in your life fought better than you did
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  Speaker 1: this morning. Your defense of the heights was quite a
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  Speaker 1: turign affair. But you made a mistake in your morning
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  Speaker 1: movement to the left, which showed me your flank. Perhaps, however,
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  Speaker 1: you had some reason for it, for I think there
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  Speaker 1: was a fresh corps come up towards the close of
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  Speaker 1: the affair. Look to yourself, dear Albert, for be you
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  Speaker 1: sure that I shall give you no breathing time? And
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  Speaker 1: so God speed you. Louis Devran. Postscriptum, I find myself
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  Speaker 1: called upon by my duty to require you formerly to
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  Speaker 1: send back la belle clements to her good friend de Rurey,
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  Speaker 1: and to address a letter to her upon the subject
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  Speaker 1: of her return. The Count had read this epistle with
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  Speaker 1: a thoughtful and a somewhat frowning brow. It was quite
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  Speaker 1: characteristic of the Chevalier Devran, but yet there was something
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  Speaker 1: in it that did not please him. He turned, however,
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  Speaker 1: to the officer, courteously saying, the Chevalier de Vron notifies
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  Speaker 1: me that he has sent a letter to Mademoiselle de
• 14:07
  Speaker 1: Marli and seems to leave it to me to deliver it.
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  Speaker 1: I would rather, however, that you did so yourself, if
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  Speaker 1: that lady will permit me to introduce you to her,
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  Speaker 1: when you can bear her answer from her own mouth, Riquet,
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  Speaker 1: he said, go up and inquire whether Mademoiselle de Marlis
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  Speaker 1: will grant this gentleman a few minutes audience. A short
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  Speaker 1: pause ensued, for Clement's hesitated for some time. At length, however,
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  Speaker 1: Riquet returned with an answer in the affirmative, and the
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  Speaker 1: count led the officer to her presence. I am commanded, Madame,
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  Speaker 1: said the stranger, by Monsieur le Chevalier de Vron, Lieutenant
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  Speaker 1: General of the province, to deliver you this letter, and
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  Speaker 1: to say that at any time to morrow which you
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  Speaker 1: will name, he will send a proper carriage and attendants
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  Speaker 1: to convey you back to the town of Touar, from
• 14:59
  Speaker 1: which he understand that she were forceably carried away some
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  Speaker 1: night ago. Clament's merely bowed her head and held out
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  Speaker 1: her hand for the letter, which she opened and read.
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  Speaker 1: A faint smile came over her countenance as she proceeded,
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  Speaker 1: and when she had done, she handed the epistle to
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  Speaker 1: her lover, asking what shall I do or say? Nay,
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  Speaker 1: I can give you no advice, replied the Count in
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  Speaker 1: this matter, Claimant's you must act by your own judgment.
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  Speaker 1: Advice from me, situated as you are now, will bear
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  Speaker 1: somewhat the character of dictation. Do you wish me to
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  Speaker 1: read the letter? Certainly, she replied, My mind will be
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  Speaker 1: easily made up as to the answer. The Count then
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  Speaker 1: proceeded to read the letter, which was merely one of form,
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  Speaker 1: and began, Mademoiselle, I am urged by Monsieur le duc
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  Speaker 1: de Rufrey, and feel it a part of my duty
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  Speaker 1: to apply to you immediately to return to the care
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  Speaker 1: and protection of that gentleman and the Duchess under whose
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  Speaker 1: charge and guardianship you have been play the King. Although
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  Speaker 1: we are fully informed that you were carried away from
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  Speaker 1: the town of Tua without your own consent and approbation,
• 16:08
  Speaker 1: we feel sure, from the high character and reputation of
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  Speaker 1: the Count de Merseille, though now unfortunately in open rebellion,
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  Speaker 1: that he will be most anxious you should return, and
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  Speaker 1: will do all that he can to facilitate the arrangements
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  Speaker 1: for that purpose. Such being the case, let me exhort
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  Speaker 1: you mademoiselle, to make all haste to quit the camp
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  Speaker 1: of a body of men in open the insurrection, and
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  Speaker 1: to place yourself under protection of legitimate authority. I have
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  Speaker 1: the honor to be, mademoiselle, your devoted servant, Louis de Franz.
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  Speaker 1: The count returned the letter with no other comment than
• 16:45
  Speaker 1: it is strange and Clayment's pause for a moment, gazing
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  Speaker 1: upon the back of the letter, but evidently occupied by
• 16:52
  Speaker 1: deep thoughts. Then she turned to the officer, who had
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  Speaker 1: remained standing, and said, I will not detain you, sir,
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  Speaker 1: to write, as my answer must be merely what the
• 17:02
  Speaker 1: Chevalier Devron expects you will inform him. Notwithstanding that it
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  Speaker 1: may seem bold of me to say so, that although
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  Speaker 1: I were certainly not brought here with my consent, I
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  Speaker 1: nevertheless am here by my consent. And as I have
• 17:17
  Speaker 1: long been disposed to return to that faith in which
• 17:20
  Speaker 1: I was originally instructed, and have for some time embraced
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  Speaker 1: it upon sincere conviction, I cannot consent to place myself
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  Speaker 1: in a situation where the exercise of the reformed religion
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  Speaker 1: will be denied to me, but must, on the contrary,
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  Speaker 1: remain with those who will protect and support me in
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  Speaker 1: my adherence to what I consider the only pure and
• 17:41
  Speaker 1: true faith. In short, Madam replied the officer. I am
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  Speaker 1: to tell the Chevalier that you are a Huguenot exactly, Sir,
• 17:49
  Speaker 1: replied Clement, and that I have been so for some time.
• 17:55
  Speaker 1: The officer showed an inclination to pause and to add
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  Speaker 1: something to what had been said, but the Count stopped him.
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  Speaker 1: You are, sir, he said, I think, but the bearer
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  Speaker 1: of a letter. Nothing in that has been shown us
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  Speaker 1: giving you at all the title of an envoy. You have,
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  Speaker 1: therefore but to bear back the reply which the lady
• 18:14
  Speaker 1: has given and your own, sir, said the officer, which
• 18:18
  Speaker 1: I have not received. It is as simple as her own,
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  Speaker 1: Sir replied the Count. Assure the Chevalier Devron of my
• 18:25
  Speaker 1: best regard. Tell him he may trust entirely and fully
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  Speaker 1: to the proposal made to him on my part, to
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  Speaker 1: which he alludes as far at least as I myself
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  Speaker 1: have concerned in respect. However, to what will satisfy the
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  Speaker 1: other leaders who are in arms for the maintenance of
• 18:43
  Speaker 1: their just liberties and for the attainment of immunity in
• 18:46
  Speaker 1: worshiping God. According to their own consciences. He must deal
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  Speaker 1: with themselves in that I cannot and do not interfere,
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  Speaker 1: and have only to support them with my sword and
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  Speaker 1: counsels to such time as they have obtain their rights
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  Speaker 1: or are satisfied with any arrangement proposed, I shall not fail,
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  Speaker 1: replied the officer, to convey these messages distinctly, and thus saying,
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  Speaker 1: he bowed and left the room, followed by the Count
• 19:15
  Speaker 1: of Morseilles, who, giving directions that his eyes should be
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  Speaker 1: properly bandaged, placed him in the hands of the Protestants
• 19:22
  Speaker 1: soldier who had accompanied him, and of the guard which
• 19:25
  Speaker 1: was waiting without. He then made a sign to Riquet
• 19:28
  Speaker 1: to follow him upstairs, and bade his valet repeat to
• 19:32
  Speaker 1: Clayment de Marlis or that had occurred respecting his liberation
• 19:35
  Speaker 1: from the bastille, and now Riquet, he said, when the
• 19:38
  Speaker 1: man had given a much more straightforward and decided statement
• 19:42
  Speaker 1: than he usually made, it is my intention, as soon
• 19:45
  Speaker 1: as possible, to lay the whole of these facts before
• 19:48
  Speaker 1: the King, feeling it due to my own honor, to
• 19:51
  Speaker 1: show him that I have not been so ungrateful as
• 19:53
  Speaker 1: he thinks. As the act, however, which you have committed
• 19:57
  Speaker 1: might prove very dangerous to you if you should fall
• 20:01
  Speaker 1: into the hands of the Catholic Party. I shall take
• 20:03
  Speaker 1: care before I give this account, that you shall have
• 20:06
  Speaker 1: the opportunity of seeking refuge in another land. I know
• 20:10
  Speaker 1: that all countries are to you alike, and I will
• 20:13
  Speaker 1: ensure that you shall be provided with full means of
• 20:16
  Speaker 1: obtaining for yourself comfort and repose, Sir, said the man,
• 20:21
  Speaker 1: with some feeling. All countries, as you say, are to
• 20:25
  Speaker 1: me alike. But such is not the case with regard
• 20:28
  Speaker 1: to all masters. Please God, I will never serve another
• 20:31
  Speaker 1: but yourself. If you quit the country, I will quit
• 20:35
  Speaker 1: it with you. If you remain, I will remain. I
• 20:39
  Speaker 1: am already am I not in arms against the Crown.
• 20:43
  Speaker 1: I am just as much a rebel, riding after you
• 20:46
  Speaker 1: from place to place, and every now and then firing
• 20:48
  Speaker 1: a musket when I think nobody sees me, as if
• 20:51
  Speaker 1: I were at the head of the whole business, and
• 20:54
  Speaker 1: people called it the rebellion of Rouquet. You may therefore
• 20:58
  Speaker 1: lay the whole statement before the king is if you please,
• 21:01
  Speaker 1: and I will myself write down the plain facts in
• 21:04
  Speaker 1: fewer words than a paper drawn up by a notarious
• 21:07
  Speaker 1: clerk without a fee. I have no fear, sir, of
• 21:10
  Speaker 1: gathering together upon my shoulders a few more stray crimes
• 21:14
  Speaker 1: and misdemeanors. That does not lie in the way of
• 21:18
  Speaker 1: my cowardice. My neck is thin and long, and whether
• 21:22
  Speaker 1: it be the axe of the cord that has to
• 21:24
  Speaker 1: do with it, it will neither give the cord nor
• 21:26
  Speaker 1: the edge much trouble. While I have always one consolation,
• 21:31
  Speaker 1: which is that if the experiment of hanging should prove disagreeable,
• 21:35
  Speaker 1: it cannot be tried upon me. Twice. I will go
• 21:39
  Speaker 1: and get the paper directly, sir, which the man Peter
• 21:42
  Speaker 1: brought back. Again. I will put down all his sayings
• 21:45
  Speaker 1: and doings, and all my own. And the King, who
• 21:49
  Speaker 1: is said to have a high taste in all branches
• 21:51
  Speaker 1: of skill, ought to declare, when he sees the order
• 21:54
  Speaker 1: for your liberation which I manufactured, that there is not
• 21:58
  Speaker 1: a piece of mosaic like it in all of their sigh,
• 22:02
  Speaker 1: and grant me a high reward for such specimen of
• 22:04
  Speaker 1: dexterity in my art. I fear you deceive yourself, Riquet,
• 22:09
  Speaker 1: replied the count. But the man shook his head, No, Sir,
• 22:14
  Speaker 1: I do not, he said, I assure you all things
• 22:17
  Speaker 1: considered and well weighed. I do not think that I
• 22:20
  Speaker 1: run a bit more risk by this matter being told
• 22:22
  Speaker 1: to the king than if it never reached his ears.
• 22:27
  Speaker 1: Thus saying, he left the room, and Albert of Monseau
• 22:29
  Speaker 1: turned to other and sweeter thoughts. Dear dear Claments, he said,
• 22:34
  Speaker 1: gazing tenderly upon her. You have now indeed chosen your
• 22:39
  Speaker 1: part as I could expect Clayment to do, And by
• 22:42
  Speaker 1: the words that you have this day spoken, you have
• 22:45
  Speaker 1: swept away every feeling in my bosom that could give
• 22:48
  Speaker 1: me a moment's pain. Hush, Albert, Hush, said Clement. I
• 22:54
  Speaker 1: know the kind of pain to which you allude, but
• 22:57
  Speaker 1: you should never have entertained it. Love for Albert, the
• 23:01
  Speaker 1: love of a heart such as yours, ought never to doubt.
• 23:05
  Speaker 1: But dear Clement's replied the Count, is it possible for
• 23:09
  Speaker 1: love to be satisfied while there is anything touching its affection? Concealed?
• 23:15
  Speaker 1: Clayment smiled but shook her head, and as she was
• 23:18
  Speaker 1: about to reply, a single musket shot was heard, disturbing
• 23:21
  Speaker 1: the tranquility which had fallen over the camp. The Count listened,
• 23:25
  Speaker 1: and his ear caught the distant sounds of alert, alert,
• 23:30
  Speaker 1: followed almost immediately afterwards by a more general discharge of musketry.
• 23:35
  Speaker 1: Clayment's had turned very pale. Fear not, dear Clements, he said,
• 23:40
  Speaker 1: this is merely a night attack upon some of our quarters,
• 23:43
  Speaker 1: which will soon be repelled, for I have taken sufficient precautions.
• 23:47
  Speaker 1: I will see what it is and return immediately. Thus saying,
• 23:51
  Speaker 1: he left her and Clayment's with a heart full of
• 23:54
  Speaker 1: strong and mingled emotions, leaned her head upon the little
• 23:58
  Speaker 1: table and wept. End of Chapter thirty one.