"
"How ruined?" she asked in surprise.
"Are you indeed 'beautiful, brilliant, and of noble birth'?" he asked
ironically, repeating the words she had herself used in their former
conversation.
"Who has told you to the contrary?"
"Friends, in whom I put faith; who care for my safety and are on the
watch against treachery."
"Treachery!" she exclaimed, in a sarcastic tone. "Have you forgotten
Hulot and Alencon already? You have no memory,--a dangerous defect in
the leader of a party. But if friends," she added, with increased
sarcasm, "are so all-powerful in your heart, keep your friends.
Nothing is comparable to the joys of friendship. Adieu; neither I nor
the soldiers of the Republic will stop here."
She turned towards the gateway with a look of wounded pride and scorn,
and her motions as she did so displayed a dignity and also a despair
which changed in an instant the thoughts of the young man; he felt
that the cost of relinquishing his desires was too great, and he gave
himself up deliberately to imprudence and credulity. He loved; and the
lovers had no desire now to quarrel with each other.
"Say but one word and I will believe you," he said, in a supplicating
voice.
"One word?" she answered, closing her lips tightly, "not a single
word; not even a gesture."
"At least, be angry with me," he entreated, trying to take the hand
she withheld from him,--"that is, if you dare to be angry with the
leader of the rebels, who is now as sad and distrustful as he was
lately happy and confiding.
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