e danger which they wantonly prepared for themselves.

"No!" cried M. Etienne, my uncle; "no, where God is, there is no
danger. Oh! Colas, be not afraid of men, for the Lord is with you.
'He who confesses me before men, him will I also confess before my
Father,' says the Saviour of the world. In France, the gospel grain of
mustard-seed will spring up, as on the mountains of Switzerland and in
the forests of Germany; but we want men like Zuinglius, Calvin, and
Luther, who do not tremble before the princes of this world. And you,
Alamontade, be like them, and God will be your strong fortress."

Once, when I was again obliged to intercede for the Protestants, the
mareschale asked me, with a penetrating glance, "You are not a heretic,
I hope?" He refused my solicitations, and from that time became more
reserved towards me.

I perceived how little good I could do under existing circumstances,
but, on the contrary, how injurious my presence in Nismes, my office,
and the false notion of my influence must be to the followers of
Calvin, who relied upon me with too much confidence. This brought me
to the resolution of requesting my discharge; but Madame de Sonnes and
Clementine prevented me from doing so by their entreaties until the
winter had passed. The mareschale was in Montpellier, and his absence
rendered me happier, but the Protestants still more daring.

On the Palm Sunday of the year 1703, the mareschale, who had recently
returned from Montpellier, invited me to a banquet in his castle, and
though not feeling quite well I determined on going.

In the morning I said smiling to Clementine, "To-morrow I shall ask for
my discharge, and whatever your mother may say, it must be done
to-morrow, and then, Clementine!----"

"And then?"---- she asked.

"We will no longer delay our union. We may now rejoice with propriety
since you have this day left off your black dress. Therefore in a week
you will be my wife. And then," I continued, "we will leave this
melancholy Nismes, and go to our new estate near Montpellier. Spring
is coming with its beauty; we must live amid rural nature."

And this was resolved on, and sealed by a kiss.

At this moment I was called out. I quitted the room; I found that my
uncle had come, and requested a private interview in my own apartment.

"Colas," said he, "this is Palm Sunday, and you must come with me."

"I cannot," was my reply, "for I am invited to dine with the
mareschale.