" replied Madame de Montrevel.

"In any case," observed Sir John, "as neither your mother nor I
recognized any one, she will persist in that declaration."

"Oh I most certainly," exclaimed Madame de Montrevel. "God keep me from
causing the death of that unhappy young man. I should never forgive
myself. It is bad enough that Roland should have been the one to capture
him and his companions."

Amelie sighed, but nevertheless her face assumed a calmer expression.
She looked gratefully at Sir John, and then went up to her room, where
Charlotte was waiting for her. Charlotte had become more than a maid,
she was now Amelie's friend. Every day since the four young men had
returned to the prison at Bourg she had gone there to see her father
for an hour or so. During these visits nothing was talked of but the
prisoners, whom the worthy jailer, royalist as he was, pitied with
all his heart. Charlotte made him tell her everything, even to their
slightest words, and later reported all to Amelie.

Matters stood thus when Madame de Montrevel and Sir John arrived at
Noires-Fontaines. Before leaving Paris, the First Consul had informed
Madame de Montrevel, both through Josephine and Roland, that he approved
of her daughter's marriage, and wished it to take place during his
absence, and as soon as possible. Sir John had declared to her that
his most ardent wishes were for this union, and that he only awaited
Amelie's commands to become the happiest of men. Matters having reached
this point, Madame de Montrevel, on the morning of the day on which
she and Sir John were to give their testimony, had arranged a private
interview between her daughter and Sir John.

The interview lasted over an hour, and Sir John did not leave Amelie
until the carriage came to the door which was to take Madame de
Montrevel and himself to the court. We have seen that his deposition was
all in the prisoners' favor, and we have also seen how Amelie received
him on his return.

That evening Madame de Montrevel had a long conversation with her
daughter. To her mother's pressing inquiries, Amelie merely replied that
the state of her health was such that she desired a postponement of her
marriage, and that she counted on Sir John's delicacy to grant it.

The next day Madame de Montrevel was obliged to return to Paris,
her position in Madame Bonaparte's household not admitting of longer
absence. The morning of her departure she urged Amelie to accompany her;
b