I
will see Angelique des Meloises myself. It was her summons brought
him back to the city. She alone can withdraw him from the vile
companionship of Bigot and his associates at the Palace."
Angelique had been duly informed of the return of Amelie to the
city, and of her fruitless visits to the Palace to see her brother.
It was no pleasure, but a source of angry disappointment to
Angelique that Le Gardeur, in despair of making her his wife,
refused to devote himself to her as her lover. He was running wild
to destruction, instead of letting her win the husband she aspired
to, and retain at the same time the gallant she loved and was not
willing to forego.
She had seen him at the first sober moment after his return from
Tilly, in obedience to her summons. She had permitted him to pour
out again his passion at her feet. She had yielded to his kisses
when he claimed her heart and hand, and had not refused to own the
mutual flame that covered her cheek with a blush at her own
falseness. But driven to the wall by his impetuosity, she had at
last killed his reviving hopes by her repetition of the fatal words,
"I love you, Le Gardeur, but I will not marry you!"
Angelique was seized with a sudden impulse to withdraw from the
presence of Amelie in the Cathedral before being discovered by her.
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