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019 - The Unknown Peril · Huguenot- A Tale of the French Protestants

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  Speaker 1: Chapter nineteen of The Hugenot by George Payne Rainsford James.
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  Speaker 1: This LibriVox according is in the public domain, Chapter nineteen.
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  Speaker 1: The Unknown Peril, dark and onymous, as was the prospect
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  Speaker 1: of everything around the Count de Morseux, when the blessings
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  Speaker 1: of his bright days were passing away one by one,
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  Speaker 1: and his best hope was exile. Yet the interview which
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  Speaker 1: had just taken place between him and Clayments de Marlis
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  Speaker 1: was like a bright summer hour in the midst of storms,
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  Speaker 1: and even when it was over, like the June sun,
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  Speaker 1: it left a long twilight of remembered joy behind it.
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  Speaker 1: But there are times in human life when dangers are manifold,
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  Speaker 1: when we are pressed upon by a thousand difficulties, and when, nevertheless,
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  Speaker 1: though the course we have determined on is full of
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  Speaker 1: risks and perils, sorrows and sufferings, we eagerly, perhaps even imprudently,
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  Speaker 1: hurry forward upon it to avoid those very doubts and
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  Speaker 1: uncertainties which are worse than actual pains. Such was the
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  Speaker 1: case with the Count de Morseux, and he felt within
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  Speaker 1: him so strong an inclination to take the irrevocable step
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  Speaker 1: of quitting France. Forever, and seeking peace and toleration in
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  Speaker 1: another land that much accustomed to examine and govern his
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  Speaker 1: own feelings, He paused and pondered over the line of
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  Speaker 1: conduct he was about to pursue during his visit to
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  Speaker 1: the Bishop of Moux, perceiving in himself a half concealed
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  Speaker 1: purpose of forcing on the conversation to the subject of religion,
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  Speaker 1: and of showing Bossuet clearly that there was no chance
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  Speaker 1: whatever of inducing him to abandon the religion of his father's.
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  Speaker 1: Against this inclination non reflection, he determined to be upon
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  Speaker 1: his guard, although he adhered rigidly to his resolution of
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  Speaker 1: countenancing in no degree a hope of his becoming a
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  Speaker 1: convert to the Roman Catholic faith, and his own doubt
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  Speaker 1: now was whether his passing two evenings so close together
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  Speaker 1: with the Bishop of Moe, with whom he had so
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  Speaker 1: slight an acquaintance, might not afford some encouragement to expectations
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  Speaker 1: which he felt himself bound to check. Having promised, however,
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  Speaker 1: he went, but at the same time made up his
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  Speaker 1: mind not to return to the prelate's abode speedily. On
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  Speaker 1: the present occasion. He not only found Bossuet alone but
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  Speaker 1: was left with him for more than an hour without
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  Speaker 1: any other visitor appearing. The good Bishop himself was well
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  Speaker 1: aware of the danger of scaring away those whom he
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  Speaker 1: sought to win, and sincerely desirous for the count's own
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  Speaker 1: sake of bringing him into that which he believed to
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  Speaker 1: be the only path to salvation, he was inclined to
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  Speaker 1: proceed calmly and gently in the work of his conversion.
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  Speaker 1: There were others, however, more eager than himself. The King
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  Speaker 1: was as impetuous in the apostolic zeal which he believed
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  Speaker 1: himself to feel, as he had formerly been in pursuits which,
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  Speaker 1: though certainly more gross and sensual, would perhaps if accurately whigh,
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  Speaker 1: have been found to be as little selfish, vain, and
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  Speaker 1: personal as the efforts that he made to convert his
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  Speaker 1: Protestant subjects. The hesitation, even in regard to embracing the
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  Speaker 1: King's creed, was an offense, and he urged on Bossuet
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  Speaker 1: eagerly to press the young counts so far at least
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  Speaker 1: as to ascertain if there were or were not a
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  Speaker 1: prospect of his speedily Following the example of Durenne and
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  Speaker 1: so many others, the Bishop was thus driven to the subject,
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  Speaker 1: though against his will, and shortly after the young Count's appearance,
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  Speaker 1: he took him kindly and mildly by the hand, and
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  Speaker 1: led him into a small cabinet, where were arranged in
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  Speaker 1: goodly order a considerable number of works on the controversial
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  Speaker 1: divinity of the time. Amongst others, appeared some of the
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  Speaker 1: Good Prelate's own productions, such as Lexposition de la doctrine Catolique,
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  Speaker 1: the Trete de la Commignon, soules dozespesse, and istoar de Varriacion.
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  Speaker 1: Bossuet ran his finger over the titles as he pointed
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  Speaker 1: them out to the young Count. I wish, my young friend,
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  Speaker 1: he said, that I could prevail upon you to read
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  Speaker 1: some of these works, some perhaps even of my own,
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  Speaker 1: not from the vanity of an author alone. Though I
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  Speaker 1: believe that the greatest compliment that has ever been paid
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  Speaker 1: to me was that which was paid by some of
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  Speaker 1: the pastors of your own sect, who asserted, when I
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  Speaker 1: wrote that book, and he pointed to the Exposition, that
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  Speaker 1: I had altered the Catholic doctrines in order to suit
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  Speaker 1: them to the purposes of my defense. Nor indeed would
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  Speaker 1: they admit the contrary till the full approbation of the
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  Speaker 1: head of our church stamped the work as containing the
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  Speaker 1: true doctrines of our holy faith. But as I was saying,
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  Speaker 1: I wish I could persuade you to read some of these,
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  Speaker 1: not so much to gratify the vanity of an author,
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  Speaker 1: nor even simply to make a convert, but because I
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  Speaker 1: look upon you as one well worthy of saving as
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  Speaker 1: a brand from the burning, and because I should look
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  Speaker 1: upon your recall to the bosom of the Mother Church
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  Speaker 1: as worth a hundred of any ordinary conversions. In short,
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  Speaker 1: my dear young friend, because I would save you from
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  Speaker 1: much unhappiness in life, in death and in eternity. I
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  Speaker 1: owe you deep thanks, Monsieur de Moe, said the count
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  Speaker 1: for the interest that you take in me, and I
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  Speaker 1: will promise you most sincerely to read with as unprejudiced
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  Speaker 1: an i as possible, not only any, but all of
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  Speaker 1: the works you have written on such subjects. I have
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  Speaker 1: already read some, and it is by no means too
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  Speaker 1: much to admit that if anyone could induce me to
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  Speaker 1: quit the faith in which I have been brought up,
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  Speaker 1: it would be Monsieur de Moe. He will not think
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  Speaker 1: me wrong However, when I say that I am as
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  Speaker 1: yet unconvinced, nor will he be offended if I make
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  Speaker 1: one observation. No, rather, ask one question in regard to
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  Speaker 1: something he has just said. Far far from it, my
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  Speaker 1: son replied the Bishop. I am ever willing to explain anything,
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  Speaker 1: to enter into the most open and candid exposition of
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  Speaker 1: everything that I think or feel. I have no design
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  Speaker 1: to embarrass, or to perplex, or to obscure. My whole
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  Speaker 1: view is to make my own doctrine clear and explicit,
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  Speaker 1: so that the mind of the merest child may choose
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  Speaker 1: between the right and the wrong. I merely wish to ask,
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  Speaker 1: said the count, whether by the words unhappiness in life
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  Speaker 1: and in death you meant to allude to temporal or
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  Speaker 1: spiritual unhappiness. Whether you meant delicately to point out to
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  Speaker 1: me that the hand of persecution is likely to be
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  Speaker 1: stretched out to oppress me or No, No, cried Bossuet.
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  Speaker 1: Eagerly Heaven forbid that I should hold out as an
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  Speaker 1: inducement the apprehension of things that I disapprove of. No,
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  Speaker 1: Monsieur de Morseilles, I meant merely spiritual happiness and unhappiness,
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  Speaker 1: For I do not believe that any man can be
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  Speaker 1: perfectly happy in life while persisting in a wrong belief.
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  Speaker 1: Certainly I believe that he must be unhappy in his death,
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  Speaker 1: and alas my son, reason and religion both teach me
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  Speaker 1: that he must be unhappy in eternity. The great question
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  Speaker 1: of eternity, replied the count solemnly is in the hands
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  Speaker 1: of God. But the man and the only man who,
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  Speaker 1: in this sense must be unhappy in life, in death
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  Speaker 1: and in eternity, seems to me to be the man
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  Speaker 1: who is uncertain in his faith, in life and in death.
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  Speaker 1: I can conceive the deist, or, if there be such
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  Speaker 1: a thing, the atheist, if perfectly convinced of the truth
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  Speaker 1: of his system, perfectly happy and perfectly contented. But the
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  Speaker 1: skeptic can never be happy. He who, in regard to
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  Speaker 1: religious belief, is doubtful, uncertain, wavering, must assuredly be unhappy
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  Speaker 1: in life and in death. Though to God's great mercy
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  Speaker 1: we must refer the eternity. If I remain unshaken, Monsieur
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  Speaker 1: de mor in my firm belief that what we call
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  Speaker 1: the Reformed Church is right in its views and doctrines.
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  Speaker 1: The only thing that can disturb or make me unhappy.
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  Speaker 1: Therein is temporal persecution. Were my fate in that church,
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  Speaker 1: however shaken, I would abandon it immediately. I could not.
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  Speaker 1: I would not remain in a state of doubt. The
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  Speaker 1: more anxious I am, my son, replied the Bishop, to
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  Speaker 1: withdraw you from that erroneous creed, For so firm and
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  Speaker 1: so decided a mind as yours is the very one
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  Speaker 1: which could the best appreciate the doctrines of the Church
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  Speaker 1: of Rome, which are always clear, definite and precise, the
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  Speaker 1: same to day as they were yesterday, based upon decisions
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  Speaker 1: that never change, and not as your faith does, admitting
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  Speaker 1: doubts and fostering variations. You must listen to me, my
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  Speaker 1: young friend. Indeed, I must have you listen to me.
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  Speaker 1: I hear some of our other friends in the next room.
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  Speaker 1: But we must converse more, and the sooner the better.
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  Speaker 1: You have visited me twice, but I will next visit you,
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  Speaker 1: for I think nothing should be left undone that may
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  Speaker 1: court a noble spirit back to the Church of God.
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  Speaker 1: Thus saying, he slowly led the way into the larger room,
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  Speaker 1: the young count merely replying as he did so, would
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  Speaker 1: to God. Monsieur de mau that by your example and
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  Speaker 1: by your exhortations, you could prevent others from giving us
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  Speaker 1: Protestants the strongest of all temporal motives to remain attached
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  Speaker 1: to our own creed. What motive is that, demanded Bossuet,
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  Speaker 1: apparently in some surprise, persecution, replied the Count, for depend
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  Speaker 1: upon it to all those who are worthy of being gay.
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  Speaker 1: Persecution is the strongest motive of resistance. Alas my son
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  Speaker 1: replied Bossuet, that you should acknowledge such a thing as
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  Speaker 1: pride to have anything on earth to do with the
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  Speaker 1: eternal salvation of your souls. An old friend of mine
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  Speaker 1: used to say, it is more often from pride than
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  Speaker 1: from want of judgment that people set themselves up against
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  Speaker 1: established opinions. Men find the first places occupied in the
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  Speaker 1: right party, and they do not choose to take up
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  Speaker 1: with back seats. I have always known this to be
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  Speaker 1: true in the things of the world, But I think
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  Speaker 1: that pride should have nothing to do with the things
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  Speaker 1: of eternity. Thus ended the conversation between the Count and
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  Speaker 1: Bossuet on the subject of religion. For that night, two
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  Speaker 1: guests had arrived. More soon followed, and the conversation became
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  Speaker 1: more general still, However, as there were many ecclesiastics, the
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  Speaker 1: subject of religion was more than once introduced. The restraint
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  Speaker 1: which the presence of a Protestant nobleman had occasioned on
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  Speaker 1: the first visit of the Count having now been removed.
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  Speaker 1: The evening passed over calmly and tranquility, however, till about
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  Speaker 1: ten o'clock at night, when the Count took his leave
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  Speaker 1: and departed. The rest of the guests stayed later, and
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  Speaker 1: on issuing out into the street, the young nobleman found
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  Speaker 1: himself alone in a clear, calm moonlight night, with the
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  Speaker 1: irregular shadows of the long line of houses checkering the pavement,
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  Speaker 1: with the yellow luster of the moon. Looking up into
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  Speaker 1: the wide open square beyond, the shadows were lost, and
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  Speaker 1: there the bright planet of the night seemed to pour
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  Speaker 1: forth a flood of radiance without let or obstruction. There
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  Speaker 1: was a fountain in the middle of the square, casting
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  Speaker 1: up its sparkling waters towards the sky, as if spirits
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  Speaker 1: were tossing about the moonbeams in their sport and casting
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  Speaker 1: the bright rays from hand to hand. As the Count gazed, however,
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  Speaker 1: and thought that he would stroll off, giving himself up
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  Speaker 1: to calm reflection at that tranquil hour and arranging his
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  Speaker 1: plans for the momentous future without disturbance from the hum
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  Speaker 1: of idle multitudes. A figure suddenly came between the fountain
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  Speaker 1: and his eyes and crept slowly down the dark side
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  Speaker 1: of the street towards him. He was standing at the
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  Speaker 1: moment in the shadow of Bossuet's porch so as not
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  Speaker 1: to be seen, but the figure came down the street
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  Speaker 1: to the door of the count's own dwelling, paused for
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  Speaker 1: a minute as if in doubt, then walked over into
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  Speaker 1: the moonlight and gazed up into the windows of the
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  Speaker 1: Prelates hotel. The count instantly recognized the peculiar form and
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  Speaker 1: structure of his valet giro Lequet, and walking out from
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  Speaker 1: the porch towards his own house, he called the man
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  Speaker 1: to him and asked if anything were the matter. Why, Yes, sir,
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  Speaker 1: said Riquet, in a low tone, so much so that
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  Speaker 1: I thought of doing what I never did in my
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  Speaker 1: life before sending in for you to know what to do.
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  Speaker 1: There has been a person seeking you twice or three
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  Speaker 1: times since you went, and saying he must speak with
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  Speaker 1: you immediately. Do you know him? Demanded the Count. Oh yes,
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  Speaker 1: I know him, answered Riquet, A determined devil. He is, too,
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  Speaker 1: a man in whom you used to place much confidence
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  Speaker 1: in the army, and who was born I believe upon
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  Speaker 1: your own lands armand d'ar val. You know him well.
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  Speaker 1: I could give him another name if I liked well,
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  Speaker 1: said the Count, as tranquility as possible. What of him, Mariquet?
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  Speaker 1: What does he want here, ay sir, That I cannot tell,
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  Speaker 1: replied the man. But I greatly suspect he wants no good.
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  Speaker 1: He is dressed in black from his head to his feet,
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  Speaker 1: and his face is black enough too, that is to say,
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  Speaker 1: the look of it. It was always like a thunder
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  Speaker 1: cloud and now it is like a thunder cloud gone mad.
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  Speaker 1: I don't think the man is sane, sir. And the
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  Speaker 1: third time he came down here, about ten minutes ago,
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  Speaker 1: he said he could not stop a minute, that he
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  Speaker 1: had business directly, and so he went away, pulling his
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  Speaker 1: great dark hat and feather over his head, as if
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  Speaker 1: to prevent people from seeing how his eyes were flashy.
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  Speaker 1: And then I saw that the breast of his great
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  Speaker 1: heavy coat was full of something else than rosemary or honeycomb.
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  Speaker 1: What do you mean what you mean? Demanded the count.
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  Speaker 1: What had he in his breast? Why I mean pistols, Sir,
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  Speaker 1: said the man. If I must speak good French, I
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  Speaker 1: say he had pistols. Then, So, thinking he was about
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  Speaker 1: some mischief, I crept after him from door to door,
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  Speaker 1: dodged him across the square, and saw him go in
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  Speaker 1: by a gate that I thought was shut, into the
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  Speaker 1: garden behind the chateau. I went in after him, though
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  Speaker 1: I was in a desperate fright, for fear any one
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  Speaker 1: should catch me, and I trembled so that I shook
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  Speaker 1: three crowns in my pocket till they rang like sheep bells.
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  Speaker 1: I thought he would have heard me, but I watched
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  Speaker 1: him plant himself under one of the statues on the terrace,
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  Speaker 1: and there he stood like a statue himself. I defy
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  Speaker 1: you to have told the one from the other, or
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  Speaker 1: to have known Monsieur el Val from Monsieur Neptune. Whenever
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  Speaker 1: I saw that, I came back to look for you
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  Speaker 1: and tell you what had happened. For you know, Sir,
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  Speaker 1: I am awfully afraid of firearms, and I had not
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  Speaker 1: even a pair of curling irons to fight him with.
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  Speaker 1: That must be near the apartments of Louvois, said the
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  Speaker 1: young Count thoughtfully. This man may very likely seek to
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  Speaker 1: do him some injury. More likely, the king, sir, said
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  Speaker 1: the valet, in a low voice. I have heard that
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  Speaker 1: his Majesty walks there on that terrace every fine night
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  Speaker 1: after the play for half an hour. He is quite alone,
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  Speaker 1: and it would be as much as one's liberty is
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  Speaker 1: worth to approach him at that time. Come with me directly, Riquet,
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  Speaker 1: said the Count, and show me where this is. Stay.
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  Speaker 1: Tune yourself at the gates you mention after I have
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  Speaker 1: gone in, and if you hear me call to you alone,
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  Speaker 1: instantly give the alarm to the sentries. Come quick, for
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  Speaker 1: the play must soon be over. Thus saying the young Count,
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  Speaker 1: strode on, crossed the place, and, under the guidance of Riquet,
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  Speaker 1: approached the gate through which Erval had entered. The key
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  Speaker 1: was in the lock on the outside in the door ajar,
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  Speaker 1: and leaving the man in the shadow, the Count entered alone.
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  Speaker 1: The gardens appeared perfectly solitary, sleeping in the moonlight. The
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  Speaker 1: principal waterworks were still, and no sound or motion was
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  Speaker 1: to be seen or heard. But such as proceeded from
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  Speaker 1: the smaller fountains that were sparkling on the terrace, making
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  Speaker 1: the night musical with the plaintive murmur of their waters,
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  Speaker 1: or from the tops of the high trees as they
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  Speaker 1: were waved by the gentle wind. The palace was full
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  Speaker 1: of lights, and nothing was seen moving across any of
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  Speaker 1: the windows, so that it was evident that the play
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  Speaker 1: was not yet concluded, and the young Count looked about
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  Speaker 1: for the person he sought for a moment or two
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  Speaker 1: in vain. At length, however, he saw the shadow cast
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  Speaker 1: by one of the group of statues alter itself somewhat
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  Speaker 1: in form and instantly crossing the terrace to the spot
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  Speaker 1: he saw val sitting on the first step which led
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  Speaker 1: from the terrace down to the gardens, his back leaning
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  Speaker 1: against the pedestal and his arms crossed upon his chest.
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  Speaker 1: He did not hear the step of the young count
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  Speaker 1: till he was close upon him, but the moment he
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  Speaker 1: did so, he started up and drew a pistol from
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  Speaker 1: his breast. He soon perceived who it was, however, and
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  Speaker 1: the Count, saying in a low voice, my servants, tell
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  Speaker 1: me you have been seeking me, drew him, though somewhat
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  Speaker 1: unwilling apparently down the steps. What is it you wanted
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  Speaker 1: with me, continued the count, gazing in his face to
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  Speaker 1: see whether the marks of insanity which Rouquet had spoken
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  Speaker 1: of were visible to him. But there was nothing more
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  Speaker 1: in the man's countenance than its ordinary, fierce and fiery expression.
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  Speaker 1: When stimulated by high excitement. I came to you, Count,
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  Speaker 1: he said, to make you, if you will, the sharer
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  Speaker 1: of a glorious deed. And now you are here, you
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  Speaker 1: shall at least be the spectator thereof the death of
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  Speaker 1: your great enemy, the death of him who tramples upon
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  Speaker 1: his fellow creatures as upon grapes in the wine press,
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  Speaker 1: the death of the slayer of souls and bodies? Do
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  Speaker 1: you mean, Louvois, said the Count in a calm tone.
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  Speaker 1: Louvois scoffed the man. No, no, no, I mean him
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  Speaker 1: who gives fangs to the viper and poison to the snake.
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  Speaker 1: I mean him without whom Louvois is but a bundle
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  Speaker 1: of dry reeds to be consumed to light the first
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  Speaker 1: fire that wants kindling, or to rot in its own emptiness.
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  Speaker 1: I mean the giver of the power, the lord of
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  Speaker 1: the persecutions, the harlockmonger, the merger that calls himself King
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  Speaker 1: of France, and who, from that holy title which he
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  Speaker 1: claims from God, thinks himself entitled to pile vice upon folly,
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  Speaker 1: and sin upon vice, and crime upon sin, to the
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  Speaker 1: destruction which he has so often courted to his own head.
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  Speaker 1: Shall this night fall upon him the first of the
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  Speaker 1: brutal mergerers that he sent down to rob our happy
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  Speaker 1: hearts of the duel of their peace. This hand has slain,
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  Speaker 1: and the same that crushed the worm shall crush the serpent.
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  Speaker 1: Also the Count now saw that there was, indeed in
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  Speaker 1: the state of herval's mind something different from its usual
• 19:27
  Speaker 1: tone and character. It could hardly be said that the
• 19:31
  Speaker 1: chief stay thereof was broken so as to justify the
• 19:35
  Speaker 1: absolute supposition of insanity. But it seemed as if one
• 19:39
  Speaker 1: of the fine filaments of the mental texture given way,
• 19:43
  Speaker 1: leaving all the rest nearly as it was before, though
• 19:47
  Speaker 1: with a confused and morbid line running through the whole web.
• 19:51
  Speaker 1: It need not be said that Albert of Morseux was
• 19:54
  Speaker 1: determined to prevent it all or any risk, the act
• 19:57
  Speaker 1: that the man proposed to commit, But yet he wished
• 20:01
  Speaker 1: to do so without calling down death and torture on
• 20:03
  Speaker 1: the head of one who was kindled almost into absolute
• 20:07
  Speaker 1: madness by wrongs which touched the finest affections of his heart,
• 20:11
  Speaker 1: through religion and through love. Erval, he said, calmly, I
• 20:16
  Speaker 1: am deeply grieved for you. You have suffered, I know
• 20:19
  Speaker 1: how dreadfully, and you have suffered amongst the first of
• 20:22
  Speaker 1: our persecuted sect. But still you must let me argue
• 20:26
  Speaker 1: with you, for you act regarding all this matter in
• 20:29
  Speaker 1: a wrong light, and you propose to commit a great
• 20:32
  Speaker 1: and terrible crime. Argue with me, not counter of Monseur,
• 20:36
  Speaker 1: cried the man. Argue with me not, for I will
• 20:39
  Speaker 1: hear no arguments. Doubtless you will have argued with me
• 20:43
  Speaker 1: too about killing that small, pitiful insect, that blind worm,
• 20:47
  Speaker 1: who murdered her I loved, and three or four noble
• 20:50
  Speaker 1: and brave men along with her. I will tell you
• 20:54
  Speaker 1: in a word, Erval replied the count. Had you not
• 20:57
  Speaker 1: slain him, I would have done so, my hand against
• 21:01
  Speaker 1: his alone, and my life against his. He had committed
• 21:04
  Speaker 1: a base, foul, ungenerous murder for which I knew that
• 21:08
  Speaker 1: the corrupted law would give us no redress. And I
• 21:11
  Speaker 1: was prepared to shelter under a custom which I abhor
• 21:15
  Speaker 1: and detest in general, the execution of an act of
• 21:19
  Speaker 1: justice which could be obtained by no other means. Had
• 21:23
  Speaker 1: it been but for that poor girl's sake, I would
• 21:26
  Speaker 1: have slain him like a dog. Thank you, Count, Thank you,
• 21:30
  Speaker 1: cried the man, grasping his hand in his with a
• 21:34
  Speaker 1: vehemence of actual frenzy. Thank you for those words from
• 21:38
  Speaker 1: my very soul. But he was not worthy of your
• 21:40
  Speaker 1: noble sword. He died the death that he deserved, strangled
• 21:45
  Speaker 1: like a common felon, writhing and screaming for the mercy
• 21:49
  Speaker 1: he had never shown. To what he said on that head,
• 21:53
  Speaker 1: The Count did not reply, but he turned once more
• 21:56
  Speaker 1: to the matter immediately before them, nowover. He said, you
• 22:00
  Speaker 1: see that I judge not unkindly or hardly by you.
• 22:04
  Speaker 1: You must listen to my advice. However, not about this,
• 22:08
  Speaker 1: Not about this, cried the man vehemently. I am desperate,
• 22:11
  Speaker 1: and I am determined. I will not see whole herds
• 22:14
  Speaker 1: of my fellow Christians slaughtered like swine to please the
• 22:18
  Speaker 1: bloody butcher on the throne. I will not see the
• 22:21
  Speaker 1: weak and the faint hearted driven by terror to condemn
• 22:24
  Speaker 1: their own souled and barter eternity for an hour of
• 22:27
  Speaker 1: doubtful peace. I will not see the ignorant and the
• 22:30
  Speaker 1: ill instructed bought by scores like cattle at a market.
• 22:35
  Speaker 1: I will not see the infants torn from their mother's
• 22:37
  Speaker 1: arms to be offered a living sacrifice to the Moloch
• 22:40
  Speaker 1: of Rome. This night he shall die, who has condemned
• 22:45
  Speaker 1: so many others. This night he shall fall, who would
• 22:49
  Speaker 1: work the fall of the pure church that condemns him.
• 22:53
  Speaker 1: I will hear no advice. I will work the work
• 22:55
  Speaker 1: for which I came, and then perish when I may.
• 22:59
  Speaker 1: Was it not for this that every chance has favored me?
• 23:03
  Speaker 1: Was it not for this that the key was accidentally
• 23:05
  Speaker 1: left in the door till such time as I laid
• 23:07
  Speaker 1: my hand upon it and took it away? Was it
• 23:10
  Speaker 1: not for this that no eye saw me seize upon
• 23:12
  Speaker 1: that key this morning, though thousands were passing by. Was
• 23:17
  Speaker 1: it not for this that such a thing should happen
• 23:19
  Speaker 1: on the very night in which he comes forth to
• 23:22
  Speaker 1: walk upon that terrace? And shall I now pause? Shall
• 23:26
  Speaker 1: I now listen to any man's advice who tells me
• 23:29
  Speaker 1: that I must hold my hand? If you will not
• 23:32
  Speaker 1: listen to my advice, said the Count. You must listen
• 23:35
  Speaker 1: to my authority. E Val. The act you propose to commit,
• 23:39
  Speaker 1: you shall not commit, no, cried he who shall stop me.
• 23:43
  Speaker 1: Yours is but one life against mine. Remember, and I
• 23:46
  Speaker 1: care not how many fall or how soon I shall
• 23:50
  Speaker 1: fall myself, either, so that this be accomplished. My life,
• 23:55
  Speaker 1: as you say, replied the Count, is but one. But
• 23:58
  Speaker 1: even eval, if you were to take mine, which would
• 24:01
  Speaker 1: neither be just nor grateful. If even you were to
• 24:05
  Speaker 1: lose your own, which may yet be of great service
• 24:07
  Speaker 1: to the cause of our faith, you could not, and
• 24:11
  Speaker 1: you should not take that of the king if you
• 24:14
  Speaker 1: are determined. I am determined too. My servant stands at
• 24:18
  Speaker 1: yonder gate, and on the slightest noise he gives the alarm. Thus,
• 24:22
  Speaker 1: then I tell you, he continued, glancing his eyes towards
• 24:25
  Speaker 1: the windows of the palace, across which various figures were
• 24:28
  Speaker 1: now beginning to move. Thus, then I tell you, you
• 24:31
  Speaker 1: must either instantly quit this place with me, or that
• 24:34
  Speaker 1: struggle begins between us, which end how it may, as
• 24:38
  Speaker 1: far as I am concerned, must instantly ensure the safety
• 24:41
  Speaker 1: of the king and lead you to trial and execution.
• 24:45
  Speaker 1: The way is still open for you to abandon this
• 24:47
  Speaker 1: rash project at once, or to call down ruin upon
• 24:51
  Speaker 1: your own head without the slightest possible chance of accomplishing
• 24:55
  Speaker 1: your object. You have frustrated me, cried the man. You
• 24:59
  Speaker 1: have foiled. You have overthrown by preventing a greater noble deed,
• 25:03
  Speaker 1: the execution of a mighty scheme for the deliverance of
• 25:06
  Speaker 1: this land and the security of our suffering church. The
• 25:10
  Speaker 1: consequences be upon your own head, Count of Monseur, the
• 25:14
  Speaker 1: consequences be upon your own head. I see that you
• 25:18
  Speaker 1: have taken your measures too well, and that even if
• 25:20
  Speaker 1: you paid the just penalty for such interference, the result
• 25:25
  Speaker 1: could not be accomplished. Come, then, said the count, Come, Erval,
• 25:29
  Speaker 1: I must forgive anger, as I have thwarted a rash purpose.
• 25:33
  Speaker 1: But make what speed you may to quit the gardens.
• 25:36
  Speaker 1: For ere another minute be over, many a one will
• 25:39
  Speaker 1: be crossing that terrace to their own apartments. Thus saying,
• 25:43
  Speaker 1: he laid his hand upon the man's arm to lead
• 25:46
  Speaker 1: him gently away from the danger's spot on which he stood.
• 25:50
  Speaker 1: But Herval shook off his grasp sullenly, and walked on
• 25:53
  Speaker 1: before with a slow and hesitating step, as if every
• 25:57
  Speaker 1: moment he would have turned in order to effect his purpose.
• 26:01
  Speaker 1: The Count doubted and feared that he would do so,
• 26:04
  Speaker 1: and glad was he. Indeed, when he saw him pass
• 26:07
  Speaker 1: the gate which led out of the gardens. As soon
• 26:10
  Speaker 1: as Erval had gone forth, the young Count closed the door,
• 26:14
  Speaker 1: locked it, and threw the key over the wall, saying, there,
• 26:17
  Speaker 1: thank God, it is now impossible, Aye, replied the man.
• 26:22
  Speaker 1: But there are other things possible, Count, and things that
• 26:26
  Speaker 1: may cause more bloodshed and more confusion than one little
• 26:29
  Speaker 1: pistol shot. It would have saved all France, he continued,
• 26:33
  Speaker 1: muttering to himself. It would have saved all France. Not
• 26:37
  Speaker 1: a change. But if we must fight it out in
• 26:40
  Speaker 1: the field, we must. While he spoke, he walked onward
• 26:45
  Speaker 1: towards the Count's house in a sort of gloomy but
• 26:47
  Speaker 1: not altogether silent revery, in the intervals of which he
• 26:51
  Speaker 1: spoke or murmured to himself in a manner which almost
• 26:54
  Speaker 1: seemed to justify the opinion expressed by Riquet that he
• 26:58
  Speaker 1: was insane. Suddenly turning round towards the valet who followed, however,
• 27:03
  Speaker 1: he demanded, sharply, has there not been a tall man
• 27:06
  Speaker 1: with a green feather in his hat, asking for your
• 27:09
  Speaker 1: lord two or three times to day. So I have heard,
• 27:13
  Speaker 1: replied Riquet from the Swiss, but I did not see
• 27:16
  Speaker 1: him myself. The Swiss never informed me thereof, said the Count, pray,
• 27:21
  Speaker 1: who might he be and what was his business? His name,
• 27:25
  Speaker 1: sir replied, 'erval is Atreaumont, and his business was for
• 27:30
  Speaker 1: your privateer atre'ensman, said the Count in return, what he
• 27:36
  Speaker 1: who was an officer in the guards. Erval nodded his head,
• 27:40
  Speaker 1: and the Count went on. A brave man, a determined
• 27:43
  Speaker 1: man he was, but in other respects a wild, rash, profligate.
• 27:48
  Speaker 1: He can have no business for my privateer that I
• 27:50
  Speaker 1: should be glad or even willing to hear. You know not,
• 27:54
  Speaker 1: that counts, said Ervu. He has glorious schemes in view,
• 27:58
  Speaker 1: schemes which perhaps may save the untry. The Count shook
• 28:02
  Speaker 1: his head, Schemes, he said, which will bring ruin on
• 28:05
  Speaker 1: himself and on all connected with him. I have rarely
• 28:09
  Speaker 1: known or heard of a man unprincipled and profligate in
• 28:12
  Speaker 1: private life who could be faithful and just in public affairs.
• 28:17
  Speaker 1: Such men there may be, perhaps, but the first face
• 28:20
  Speaker 1: of the case is against them, For surely they who
• 28:23
  Speaker 1: are not to be trusted between man and man are
• 28:26
  Speaker 1: still less to be trusted when greater temptations lie in
• 28:29
  Speaker 1: their way and greater interests are at stake. Well, well,
• 28:34
  Speaker 1: said alval, he will not trouble you again. This was
• 28:37
  Speaker 1: the last day of his stay in Paris, and ere
• 28:39
  Speaker 1: to morrow be two hours old. He will be far
• 28:42
  Speaker 1: away and pray, demanded the Count. Was it by his advice,
• 28:47
  Speaker 1: he who owes nothing but gratitude to the king? Was
• 28:50
  Speaker 1: it by his advice that you were stationed where I
• 28:53
  Speaker 1: found you? He knew nothing of it, said the man sharply.
• 28:57
  Speaker 1: He knew nothing of it, nor did I intend that
• 28:59
  Speaker 1: he should should know till it was all over. And
• 29:02
  Speaker 1: now he continued, What is to become of me? Why
• 29:06
  Speaker 1: in the first place, replied the Count, you had better
• 29:08
  Speaker 1: come in with me and take some refreshment. While we
• 29:11
  Speaker 1: are doing so, we will think of the future for you.
• 29:15
  Speaker 1: The man made no reply, but followed the Count, who
• 29:17
  Speaker 1: led the way into his house and then ordered some
• 29:20
  Speaker 1: refreshments of various kinds to be set before his guests
• 29:23
  Speaker 1: from Poitou, examining the man's countenance as he did so.
• 29:27
  Speaker 1: And becoming more and more convinced that something certainly had
• 29:30
  Speaker 1: given way in the brain to produce the wandering and
• 29:33
  Speaker 1: unsettled eye which glared in his face, as well as
• 29:36
  Speaker 1: the rash words and actions that he spoken to performed
• 29:41
  Speaker 1: and now er val He said, as soon as they
• 29:43
  Speaker 1: were alone, there is but one question which you should
• 29:46
  Speaker 1: ask yourself, whether it is better for you to return
• 29:49
  Speaker 1: at once to poitu or, since you are so far
• 29:52
  Speaker 1: on your way to Holland, to take advantage of that
• 29:55
  Speaker 1: circumstance and speech to the frontier without delay. I know
• 29:59
  Speaker 1: not what is the situation of your finances, but if
• 30:02
  Speaker 1: money be wanting for either step, I am ready to
• 30:05
  Speaker 1: supply you. As an old comrade. I want no money,
• 30:09
  Speaker 1: exclaimed the man. I am wealthy in my station beyond yourself.
• 30:13
  Speaker 1: What have I to do with money whose life is
• 30:15
  Speaker 1: not worth an hour? I have a great mind to
• 30:18
  Speaker 1: divide all I have into a hundred portions, spend one
• 30:22
  Speaker 1: each day, and die at the end of it Holland. No, no,
• 30:26
  Speaker 1: this is no time for me to quit France. I
• 30:29
  Speaker 1: will be at my post at the coming moment. I
• 30:32
  Speaker 1: will set off again to night for Poitou. But let
• 30:35
  Speaker 1: me tell you, Count, for I have forgotten if you
• 30:37
  Speaker 1: should yourself wish to secure aught in Holland. And I
• 30:41
  Speaker 1: have heard that there is a lady dearer to you
• 30:43
  Speaker 1: than all your broad lands. Remember there is a schoolmaster
• 30:47
  Speaker 1: living three doors on this side of the barrier of
• 30:50
  Speaker 1: Passey called van den Enden, passing for a Fleming by birth,
• 30:55
  Speaker 1: but in reality a native of Dor. He has regular
• 30:58
  Speaker 1: communication with his name Land and will pass anything you
• 31:01
  Speaker 1: please with the utmost security. I thank you for that information, sincerely,
• 31:07
  Speaker 1: replied the Count. It may be most useful to me,
• 31:11
  Speaker 1: but give me one piece of information. More, he added,
• 31:14
  Speaker 1: as the man rose, after having drank a glass of
• 31:17
  Speaker 1: water with a few drops of wine in it? What
• 31:20
  Speaker 1: was the state of the province when you left it?
• 31:24
  Speaker 1: If you mean, Count, what was the state of the
• 31:26
  Speaker 1: Reformed Party? Said Ervar, gazing round with a look of
• 31:29
  Speaker 1: wild carelessness. It was a girl in a consumption where
• 31:33
  Speaker 1: something is lost every day, no one knows how, and
• 31:36
  Speaker 1: yet the whole looks as pretty as ever till there
• 31:39
  Speaker 1: is nothing but a skeleton remains. But there will be
• 31:42
  Speaker 1: this difference, Count, There will be this difference. There will
• 31:47
  Speaker 1: be strength found in the skeleton. Have you not heard
• 31:50
  Speaker 1: there were three thousand men, together with women and children,
• 31:53
  Speaker 1: all converted at once, within ten miles of New York.
• 31:57
  Speaker 1: And it costs the priest so much bread and wine
• 32:00
  Speaker 1: giving them the sacrament, that he swore he would make
• 32:03
  Speaker 1: no more converts unless the King would double the value
• 32:06
  Speaker 1: of the cure. Ha ha, And laughing loud and wildly,
• 32:11
  Speaker 1: he turned upon his heel and left the room without
• 32:14
  Speaker 1: bidding the Count good night. End of Chapter nineteen.