Stopped by a sentry, she showed the glove. The moon lighted her face,
and the muzzle of the gun already pointed at her was dropped by the
Chouan, who uttered a hoarse cry, which echoed through the place. She
now saw large buildings, where a few lighted windows showed the rooms
that were occupied, and presently reached the walls without further
hindrance. Through the window into which she looked, she saw Madame du
Gua and the leaders who were convoked at La Vivetiere. Bewildered at
the sight, also by the conviction of her danger, she turned hastily to
a little opening protected by iron bars, and saw in a long vaulted
hall the marquis, alone and gloomy, within six feet of her. The
reflection of the fire, before which he was sitting in a clumsy chair,
lighted his face with a vacillating ruddy glow that gave the character
of a vision to the scene. Motionless and trembling, the girl stood
clinging to the bars, to catch his words if he spoke. Seeing him so
depressed, disheartened, and pale, she believed herself to be the
cause of his sadness. Her anger changed to pity, her pity to
tenderness, and she suddenly knew that it was not revenge alone which
had brought her there.
The marquis rose, turned his head, and stood amazed when he saw, as if
in a cloud, Mademoiselle de Verneuil's face; then he shook his head
with a gesture of impatience and contempt, exclaiming: "Must I forever
see the face of that devil, even when awake?"
This utter contempt for her forced a half-maddened laugh from the
unhappy girl which made the young leader quiver.
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