here; they are as well known
to you as to me--perhaps better. I can pity your infatuation of
course; it must have been very great indeed to allow you to suppose
that a personage so exalted as the Marquis de Beaujardin could for one
moment dream of permitting an alliance between his son and one like
yourself. Such a thing would be absurd, and of course the marquis and
his relatives must prevent it by all and any means. It has been
therefore arranged that a gentleman of excellent family, who it seems
has had some opportunity of meeting you, and has, I hear, been much
taken with your modest manners, as some foolish young men occasionally
are, shall make you his wife. The marriage will take place here this
afternoon; and I am permitted to tell you that the Marquis de
Beaujardin has most generously taken it upon him to provide a dowry for
you, notwithstanding your ingratitude to that noble family. You are
indeed fortunate, my young lady, in so happy an ending to so lamentable
an affair." Here the lady paused as if to receive the acknowledgments
befitting such kindness and consideration.

"Indeed!" answered Clotilde at last. "Indeed! And pray, madame, what
if, in the new character thus forced upon me, I should decline to
accept the gentleman, and should fling my uncle's dowry in his face,
and tell him that he ought to be ashamed of degrading himself by taking
part against a poor orphan girl, whom he and his are bound by all that
is sacred to love and protect? What then?"

The lady seemed just for a minute or so rather bewildered by Clotilde's
vehement sally, but as soon as she recovered herself she replied with
ominous coldness and decision, "I can scarcely suppose that
mademoiselle could do anything so very silly; but if such should be the
case, why there will be another ride in the coach, perhaps a longer one
than the last. It will certainly not be to Beaujardin nor to
Valricour. Where it may stop I will not pretend to say. But did
Mademoiselle Marguerite never hear of such a thing as a _lettre de
cachet_? Well, you will have some hours to think over it, and in the
meanwhile you will be quite safe here; but pray do not cherish any
foolish hope that you have any choice except between a ring and a ride
to some place where you will not be less safe than here, but where you
will most assuredly stay a good deal longer. Let us hope that you will
be better advised, and accept the hand of Monsieur de Crillon."

Th