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manner in which he had placed the weapon； this hilt was directly under
his hand； if； unfortunately； the hand touched the iron； he would wake；
no doubt； instantly； and glance at his wife。 His sardonic lips； his
pointed chin aggressively pushed forward； presented the characteristic
signs of a malignant spirit； a sagacity coldly cruel； that would
surely enable him to divine all because he suspected everything。 His
yellow forehead was wrinkled like those of men whose habit it is to
believe nothing； to weigh all things； and who； like misers chinking
their gold； search out the meaning and the value of human actions。 His
bodily frame； though deformed； was bony and solid； and seemed both
vigorous and excitable； in short； you might have thought him a stunted
ogre。 Consequently； an inevitable danger awaited the young lady
whenever this terrible seigneur woke。 That jealous husband would
surely not fail to see the difference between a worthy old burgher who
gave him no umbrage； and the new…comer； young； slender； and elegant。
〃Libera nos a malo；〃 she said； endeavoring to make the young man
comprehend her fears。
The latter raised his head and looked at her。 Tears were in his eyes；
tears of love and of despair。 At sight of them the lady trembled and
betrayed herself。 Both had； no doubt； long resisted and could resist
no longer a love increasing day by day through invincible obstacles；
nurtured by terror； strengthened by youth。 The lady was moderately
handsome； but her pallid skin told of secret sufferings that made her
interesting。 She had； moreover； an elegant figure； and the finest hair
in the world。 Guarded by a tiger； she risked her life in whispering a
word； accepting a look； and permitting a mere pressure of the hand。
Love may never have been more deeply felt than in those hearts； never
more delightfully enjoyed； but certainly no passion was ever more
perilous。 It was easy to divine that to these two beings air； sound；
foot…falls； etc。； things indifferent to other men； presented hidden
qualities； peculiar properties which they distinguished。 Perhaps their
love made them find faithful interpreters in the icy hands of the old
priest to whom they confessed their sins； and from whom they received
the Host at the holy table。 Love profound！ love gashed into the soul
like a scar upon the body which we carry through life！ When these two
young people looked at each other； the woman seemed to say to her
lover； 〃Let us love each other and die！〃 To which the young knight
answered； 〃Let us love each other and not die。〃 In reply； she showed
him a sign her old duenna and two pages。 The duenna slept； the pages
were young and seemingly careless of what might happen； either of good
or evil； to their masters。
〃Do not be frightened as you leave the church； let yourself be
managed。〃
The young nobleman had scarcely said these words in a low voice； when
the hand of the old seigneur dropped upon the hilt of his dagger。
Feeling the cold iron he woke； and his yellow eyes fixed themselves
instantly on his wife。 By a privilege seldom granted even to men of
genius； he awoke with his mind as clear； his ideas as lucid as though
he had not slept at all。 The man had the mania of jealousy。 The lover；
with one eye on his mistress； had watched the husband with the other；
and he now rose quickly； effacing himself behind a column at the
moment when the hand of the old man fell； after which he disappeared；
swiftly as a bird。 The lady lowered her eyes to her book and tried to
seem calm； but she could not prevent her face from blushing and her
heart from beating with unnatural violence。 The old lord saw the
unusual crimson on the cheeks； forehead； even the eyelids of his wife。
He looked about him cautiously； but seeing no one to distrust； he said
to his wife：
〃What are you thinking of； my dear？〃
〃The smell of the incense turns me sick；〃 she replied。
〃It is particularly bad to…day？〃 he asked。
In spite of this sarcastic query； the wily old man pretended to
believe in this excuse； but he suspected some treachery and he
resolved to watch his treasure more carefully than before。
The benediction was given。 Without waiting for the end of the 〃Soecula
soeculorum；〃 the crowd rushed like a torrent to the doors of the
church。 Following his usual custom； the old seigneur waited till the
general hurry was over； after which he left his chapel； placing the
duenna and the youngest page； carrying a lantern； before him； then he
gave his arm to his wife and told the other page to follow them。
As he made his way to the lateral door which opened on the west side
of the cloister； through which it was his custom to pass； a stream of
persons detached itself from the flood which obstructed the great
portals； and poured through the side aisle around the old lord and his
party。 The mass was too compact to allow him to retrace his steps； and
he and his wife were therefore pushed onward to the door by the
pressure of the multitude behind them。 The husband tried to pass out
first； dragging the lady by the arm； but at that instant he was pulled
vigorously into the street； and his wife was torn from him by a
stranger。 The terrible hunchback saw at once that he had fallen into a
trap that was cleverly prepared。 Repenting himself for having slept；
he collected his whole strength； seized his wife once more by the
sleeve of her gown； and strove with his other hand to cling to the
gate of the church； but the ardor of love carried the day against
jealous fury。 The young man took his mistress round the waist； and
carried her off so rapidly； with the strength of despair； that the
brocaded stuff of silk and gold tore noisily apart； and the sleeve
alone remained in the hand of the old man。 A roar like that of a lion
rose louder than the shouts of the multitude； and a terrible voice
howled out the words：
〃To me； Poitiers！ Servants of the Comte de Saint…Vallier； here！ Help！
help！〃
And the Comte Aymar de Poitiers； sire de Saint…Vallier； attempted to
draw his sword and clear a space around him。 But he found himself
surrounded and pressed upon by forty or fifty gentlemen whom it would
be dangerous to wound。 Several among them； especially those of the
highest rank； answered him with jests as they dragged him along the
cloisters。
With the rapidity of lightning the abductor carried the countess into
an open chapel and seated her behind the confessional on a wooden
bench。 By the light of the tapers burning before the saint to whom the
chapel was dedicated； they looked at each other for a moment in
silence； clasping hands； and amazed at their own audacity。 The
countess had not the cruel courage to reproach the young man for the
boldness to which they owed this perilous and only instant of
happiness。
〃Will you fly with me into the adjoining States？〃 said the young man；
eagerly。 〃Two English horses are awaiting us close by； able to do
thirty leagues at a stretch。〃
〃Ah！〃 she cried； softly； 〃in what corner of the world could you hide a
daughter of King Louis XI。？〃
〃True；〃 replied the young man； silenced by a difficulty he had not
foreseen。
〃Why did you tear me from my husband？〃 she asked in a sort of terror。
〃Alas！〃 said her lover； 〃I did not reckon on the trouble I should feel
in being near you； in hearing you speak to me。 I have made plans；two
or three plans；and now that I see you all seems accomplished。〃
〃But I am lost！〃 said the countess。
〃We are saved！〃 the young man cried in the blind enthusiasm of his
love。 〃Listen to me carefully！〃
〃This will cost me my life！〃 she said； letting the tears that rolled
in her eyes flow down her cheeks。 〃The count will kill me；to…night；
perhaps！ But go to the king； tell him the tortures that his daughter
has endured these five years。 He loved me well when I was little； he
called me 'Marie…full…of…grace；' because I was ugly。 Ah！ if he knew
the man to whom he gave me； his anger would be terrible。 I have not
dared complain； out of pity for the count。 Besides； how could I reach
the king？ My confessor himself is a spy of Saint…Vallier。 That is why
I have consented to this guilty meeting； to obtain a defender；some
one to tell the truth to the king。 Can I rely on Oh！〃 she cried；
turning pale and interrupting herself； 〃here comes the page！〃
The poor countess put her hands before her face as if to veil it。
〃Fear nothing；〃 said the young seigneur； 〃he is won！ You can safely
trust him； he belongs to me。 When the count contrives to return for
you he will warn us of his coming。 In the confessional；〃 he added； in
a low voice； 〃is a priest； a friend of mine； who will tell him that he
drew you for safety out of the crowd； and placed you under his own
protection in this chapel。 Therefore； everything is arranged to
deceive him。〃
At these words the tears of the poor woman stopped； but an expression
of sadness settle