or
ever."

"You have neither father, brother, husband, or affianced lover,"
persisted Vallombreuse, "to forbid the advances of a gallant gentleman,
who seeks only to please and serve you. My sincere homage is surely not
insulting to you; why do you repulse me so? Oh! you do not dream what a
splendid prospect would open out before you if you would but yield to my
entreaties. I would surround you with everything that is beautiful and
dainty, luxurious and rare. I would anticipate your every wish; I would
devote my whole life to your service. The story of our love should
be more enchanting, more blissful than that of Love himself with his
delicious Psyche--not even the gods could rival us. Come, Isabelle,
do not turn so coldly away from me, do not persevere in this maddening
silence, nor drive to desperation and desperate deeds a passion that is
capable of anything, of everything, save renouncing its adored object,
your own sweet, charming self!"

"But this love, of which any other woman would be justly proud," said
Isabelle modestly, "I cannot return or accept; you MUST believe me, my
lord, for I mean every word I say, and I shall never swerve from this
decision. Even if the virtue and purity that I value more highly than
life itself were not against it, I should still feel myself obliged to
decline this dangerous honour."

"Deign to look upon me with favour and indulgence, my sweet Isabelle,"
continued Vallombreuse, without heeding her words, "and I will make you
an object of envy to the greatest and noblest ladies in all France. To
any other woman I should say--take what you please of my treasures--my
chateaux, my estates, my gold, my jewels--dress your lackeys in liveries
richer than the court costumes of princes--have your horses shod with
silver--live as luxuriously as a queen--make even Paris wonder at your
lavish splendour if you will--though Paris is not easily roused to
wonder--but I well know that you have a soul far above all such sordid
temptations as these. They would have no weight with you, my noble
Isabelle! But there IS a glory that may touch you--that of having
conquered Vallombreuse--of leading him captive behind your chariot
wheels--of commanding him as your servant, and your slave. Vallombreuse,
who has never yielded before--who has been the commander, not the
commanded--and whose proud neck has never yet bowed to wear the fetters
that so many fair bands have essayed to fasten round it."

"Such a