a heaven of tranquil abundance
and mutual love! Had you but the eye of an imprisoned swallow; had you
only understood your dog when he begs some crumbs from you: you would
have trampled your cross of honour under foot rather than have done
that deed. Man only can sink so low; the beast which tears itself is
gentle and innocent; a spark of ancient heaven shines still brighter in
its savage state than in our more degenerate nature. There are tales
for children in which a timid girl is made to kiss a scaly dragon in
order to disenchant him; but I could caress the tiger, extend my hand
and offer my lips to the hideous hyena, rather than polute myself by
being friendly towards you, for I should fear from a woman to be
transformed into a dragon. And yet,--as they passed here, exchanging
farewell glances, these children, who yet knew nothing of life, and
were slaughtered at this tender age--it was indeed as if the last
judgment with all its terrors burst upon my heart; behold, I could have
kissed the dust from your and your executioner's shoes in the public
streets, only to have saved them! I flew to you, I found you not. Yes,
most assuredly, all that was felt in those bitter moments by these
wretched creatures is now changed for them into peace and blessedness;
yes, they have forgotten this life and you, if we do not madly pray to
a tyrant instead of to the God of goodness."

"You are mad yourself, miserable woman," exclaimed the Marshal
vehemently, "to forget yourself thus--by heaven! you should be shut up
in a madhouse. But, by my honour, you shall never see me again."

"Never! never!" cried Christine, with flashing eyes, "Oh, already this
is happiness and gain! no, great hero, never, or if you should feel a
desire to come, a large vessel filled with salt shall be upset at your
feet, as people strew salt over the places where the cursed have
dwelt."

The Marshal trembled so violently with rage, that he was not able to
gird on his sword; he took it under his arm and left the house without
uttering a single word. The captain had already slipped away, when the
conversation took this unexpected turn; the aunts curtesied, mutually
embarrassed, and retired also, as their niece paid no attention to
them; the latter made a sign to the servants to withdraw, and released
and exhausted, she fell prostrate on the ground, while tears burst from
her eyes so unrestrainedly, as if she would thus weeping pass away and
expire.

Edmond,