"
"And you will grant it?" asked she, turning her eyes upon him
eagerly.
"Like the king in the fairy tale, even to my daughter and half of my
kingdom," replied he, gaily.
"Thanks for half the kingdom, Chevalier," laughed she, "but I would
prefer the father to the daughter." Angelique gave him a look of
ineffable meaning. "I do not desire a king to-night, however.
Grant me the lettre de cachet, and then--"
"And then what, Angelique?" He ventured to take her hand, which
seemed to tempt the approach of his.
"You shall have your reward. I ask you for a lettre de cachet, that
is all." She suffered her hand to remain in his.
"I cannot," he replied sharply to her urgent repetition. "Ask her
banishment from Beaumanoir, her life if you like, but a lettre de
cachet to send her to the Bastile I cannot and will not give!"
"But I ask it, nevertheless!" replied the wilful, passionate girl.
"There is no merit in your love if it fears risk or brooks denial!
You ask me to make sacrifices, and will not lift your finger to
remove that stumbling-block out of my way! A fig for such love,
Chevalier Bigot! If I were a man, there is nothing in earth,
heaven, or hell I would not do for the woman I loved!"
Angelique fixed her blazing eyes full upon him, but magnetic as was
their fire, they drew no satisfying reply.
Pages:
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646