preserving his
attitude like a statue. At length the gypsy said to him,--

"It causes me less horror than you do."

Then he allowed his arm to sink slowly, and gazed at the pavement in
profound dejection.

"If these stones could speak," he murmured, "yes, they would say that a
* very unhappy man stands here."

He went on. The young girl, kneeling before the gallows, enveloped in
her long flowing hair, let him speak on without interruption. He now had
a gentle and plaintive accent which contrasted sadly with the haughty
harshness of his features.

"I love you. Oh! how true that is! So nothing comes of that fire which
burns my heart! Alas! young girl, night and day--yes, night and day I
tell you,--it is torture. Oh! I suffer too much, my poor child. 'Tis a
thing deserving of compassion, I assure you. You see that I speak gently
to you. I really wish that you should no longer cherish this horror
of me.--After all, if a man loves a woman, 'tis not his fault!--Oh, my
God!--What! So you will never pardon me? You will always hate me? All is
over then. It is that which renders me evil, do you see? and horrible
to myself.--You will not even look at me! You are thinking of something
else, perchance, while I stand here and talk to you, shuddering on the
brink of eternity for both of us! Above all things, do not speak to me
of the officer!--I would cast myself at your knees, I would kiss not
your feet, but the earth which is under your feet; I would sob like
a child, I would tear from my breast not words, but my very heart and
vitals, to tell you that I love you;--all would be useless, all!--And
yet you have nothing in your heart but what is tender and merciful.
You are radiant with the most beautiful mildness; you are wholly sweet,
good, pitiful, and charming. Alas! You cherish no ill will for any one
but me alone! Oh! what a fatality!"

He hid his face in his hands. The young girl heard him weeping. It was
for the first time. Thus erect and shaken by sobs, he was more
miserable and more suppliant than when on his knees. He wept thus for a
considerable time.

"Come!" he said, these first tears passed, "I have no more words. I had,
however, thought well as to what you would say. Now I tremble and shiver
and break down at the decisive moment, I feel conscious of something
supreme enveloping us, and I stammer. Oh! I shall fall upon the pavement
if you do not take pity on me, pity on yourself. Do not condemn us both.
If you o