quivocation and
madness of mankind! this old misunderstanding, love, this detestable
riddle of the sphynx, that no one has unriddled and for which thousands
have bled--damnation!" He gnashed his teeth and dashed his gun on the
ground, so that it went off and the shot passed through the ceiling.
The women and servants of the Lady Christine hastened towards her; he
looked at her, she was not injured and smiled at him sorrowfully as he
rushed out of the door and to his parting salute only answered by a
strange shake of the head, so that her dark tresses were loosened and
shaded her face. She pressed them to her weeping eyes and went silently
to the garden and out into the fresh night air.

CHAPTER III.

The Lord of Beauvais was walking up and down in his garden conversing
on various subjects with his friend; as often as they passed the little
open summer house, Eveline called out to them and directed their
attention to the building, which she was trying to imitate with cards.
The Counsellor of Parliament was violently struggling with his
feelings, and his friend was trying in vain to tranquillise him.

"I have never yet seen you so obstinate," said the latter, at length,
almost impatiently; "what is it then at last, Edmond is a young man
like many others, let him exhaust his ardour, at a later period he will
afford you satisfaction, for do we not recognise in him strength,
character, and a noble heart, and these must certainly produce
something good hereafter."

"It is only towards you that I am so communicative," answered the
father, "I control my impatience in the presence of others and
especially before my son, but much as I must love him, I cannot
participate in your hopes. Were he only hasty and inconsiderate, all
might be well for I have been so too, I would even look favourably upon
his extravagant, overstrained religious zeal and all connected with it;
for early in life my own heart singularly experienced these feelings;
if with all this deep-rooted self will, this violent excess in every
thing, he would only add an inclination to activity, if he would but
instruct himself, if he would occupy himself in any way. I feel too
well that he presents but a disfigured resemblance of a part of my own
youth, but inwardly he is most unlike me, and in some measure
inimically opposed to me; thus unhappily is the neglected education of
his childhood avenged. You know well my old friend