Part 12 (1/2)
”Huckaback,” observed the pacha, ”it appears to reat scoundrel”
”I acknowledge it,” replied the renegade; ”but, in extenuation, your highness must call to mind that at that time I was a Christian”
”By the beard of the Prophet, that is well said, and very true!” replied the pacha
Theso unintentionally plungedtheir endeavours fruitless, quitted the roo it advisable to leave hter, remained, and after a short pause came to me, and in her silvery voice, as she laid her hand upon my shoulder, addressed me:--
”Console yourself, my dear Felix;” but I made no answer ”How unhappy I am!” said she: ”it was in e that I am indebted for my preservation:--he is dead, and you arerepay you for the loss of your brother?--Nothing, Felix?”
I raisedwith love As I resuently towards me
She offered no resistance, and in a moment she had sunk down by my side, as my arms entwined her beauteous for through her blushes, she disengaged herself, and rose to depart Returning once more at my request, I imprinted a kiss upon her brow: she waved her hand, and hastened out of the rooirl, by your description,” interrupted the pacha: ”pray what irl in your country?”
”She was beyond all price,” replied the renegade, with an absent air, as if coht The Moslem purchases the slave and blind submission to his will, but he makes not love”
”No, he buys it ready made,” replied the pacha; ”and I must say I wish you had done the saet on but sloith your story Proceed”
I remained another week, when the bishop, who had not yet taken his departure, onedrove over to Marseilles, and returned to dinner
”I was sent for,” observed he, as we sat down to table, ”to consult as to the propriety of requesting from the Pope the canonisation of the Soeur Eustasie, of whom you have heard so much, and whose disappearance has been attributed toour consultation, a piece of infored the opinion of parties as to her reputed sanctity It appears that near the spot where the vessel recked they have discovered the body of a woman dressed in man's clothes; and it is now supposed that some miscreant has personified her at the convent, and has subsequently escaped The officers of justice arethe strictest search; and if the individual is found, he will be sent to Rohness reeable news: I almost started from my chair when I heard it; but I had sufficient h every morsel that I put into my mouth nearly choked me
But before dinner was over the plot thickened; a letter was brought to thethat such contradictory reports had been received, that he could not ascertain the truth From one he heard that his eldest son was alive, and at the chateau; froratulated him in their letters upon the escape of one of his sons
He requested the marquis to inform him of the real state of affairs, and to let him know by the bearer whether his eldest son ith him, or whether he had met with the unfortunate death that was reported; and as his youngest son was at hoine, as both of theht be soe of countenance in thewell, and was to a certain degree prepared, when he gravely handed the letter to the bishop; who; having read it, passed it over to , with a stern look, ”This concerns you, sir” I read it with a co it to the h, ”There is no kindness in such deception; the bloill only fall heavier upon the old man when it does come You are aware, sir, I mentioned, it to you (or rather, I believe, it was to Mademoiselle Cerise), that my father is blind, and has been so for the last two years They have been afraid to tell him the truth, and have made him believe that Victor is there You must know, sir, that it was clandestinely that my dear brother quitted his father's house to accompany me Unhappy hour when I yielded to his intreaties! But, monsieur le o to my father; he will need the assurance of rief I will therefore, with your permission, write a few lines by the bearer of this coly tearsociety”
The cool and confident air hich I answered, re written a few lines to the comte, and requested from the marquis the loan of his seal, I applied the wax, and desired the servant to deliver it as an answer to theby the”Oh,” cried I, ”'tis Pierre: had I known that, I should have asked him some questions”
This well-timed exclaht We again sat down to table, and I was treated with more than usual kindness by the marquis and his brother, as if in co, for a moment, harboured a suspicion of my honesty But I was ill at ease; and I felt that I never had acted withI was alone with Cerise Since the news of my brother's death, and the scene that folloe had sworn unalterable love; and in that instance only was I sincere I loved her to desperation, and I dote on herbeen ions of bliss, where thy pure spirit dwells, thou canst look down upon a wretch so loaded with guilt as I am, oh, turn not aith horror, but vieith pity one who loved as fondly as man could love, and hereafter will care little for all that Paradise can offer if thy fair spirit must not bid hirily, ”that you would go on with your story: you are talking to a dead woman, instead of a live pacha”
”I intreat your pardon,” replied the renegade; ”but to a have been dis them will rise up, and cannot well be checked I will be more careful as I proceed”