The War of Women Volume 2

olles and the officer who announced the flag of

uverneur's orders?" he s

started at the voice, raised his he

flag of truc

armory,

is he acc

the Bordeau

t is

ge; he wears a broad-brimmed hat,

s did he anno

rom Madame la Princesse and

ent," said Canolles, "and

paring to follow him, when a door opened, and Nanon, pale and trembli

he said, grasping the young m

ood people of Bordeaux propose ei

ve you d

eceiv

no way to

ne of the customs wh

mon D

he matter

afr

wh

on of this flag of truce was t

s good for nothing else. Are

he may perhap

sult me

I only say what

hat extent? For what

anolles; a noble hea

God's name, who is this flag of tr

rha

ve you s

ard his voice. It's a very so

me do my duty. It was y

nd me, m

betray you? Really, Nanon, you insult m

ned, then, to se

you if you make any further objection t

please, my dear," said Nano

y i

ll you rec

y cab

es, one

t is

ur bedroom instead

e you in

you und

N

opens int

u will

rtains, if you will

. I have faith in my star

suppose this

el

ome State secr

cret to her who has intrusted h

insist upon it; but don't detain me any

rst, accept my loving than

n would have kisse

sing her to his heart and kissing h

of your bed. There

on't laugh, Nanon, for t

" said Nanon.

under Charles IX. in a style of severe simplicity. Two candelabra were burning upon the chimney-piece, but their fee

e, Nanon?" Ca

Yes" reache

ght he was, alone with Canolles. Then he removed his hat and threw back his cloak; immediately a mass of blond locks fell down over a pair of shapely shoulders, t

eek you," she said, "and I

fell upon a chair in speechless

"Mon Dieu! why are you

you, monsieur, if yo

put his hands before his eyes, seeking to

er trembling, and, above all, her desire to be present at the interview. Nan

the engagement you entered into with me in the little room at Jaulnay,-to

silence!" cr

ter dismay in the commandant's voice

alone here

may not some one hear

Saint-Georges were more solid th

s made

still know nothing as to who is governor of ?le Saint-Georges, had not chance, or public rumor, informed me that it is the man who swore to me, barely twel

nt, which made Canolles jump and

was that?" s

ular noises of this old room. There is no en

arm, "be frank with me, baron, for you must realize the importance of

spiration from his bro

n," sa

of your promise, and asked yo

d Canolles, "it has

y s

orever have been formed anew; for the punishment which I knew I had merited, the queen has substi

non doubtless was expecting a different

u are made lieutenant-colonel, and governor of a fortress; it's all very fine, I know; but it is no mor

nolles, "not anot

omtesse de Cambes who speaks to you, but the envoy of Madame la Princesse, w

nolles, with a sigh whic

ow to what party you really belong, determined to send you a flag of truce to make an attempt to secure the fortress; this attempt, which another messenger might have

hair; for, during the short pauses in the dia

incesse, let me add; for if it had been in my own name," continued Claire, wi

" said Canolles,

itions which I submit to your choice. The first is this,-and pray rememb

erview at that point. "I have been intrusted by the queen with the post

terview, when you proposed to abandon everything to follow me, when you had the pen already in you

e, when I was free to choose my own r

e, turning pale as death; "how am I t

t I am in h

listen to my se

ften enough, madame, that my resolution is immovable

t I, too, am intrusted with a mission, a

Canolles; "but y

effectively than upon you. In a year, in two years, you can ta

adly shook

"why do you ask nothing o

on once? Did you not say to her who was beside you at that time, listening to you with such delight, that you did it freely and from the bottom of

eart like a dagger-thrust, and Ca

day be treachery, infamous treachery!" said Canolles, gloomily. "I w

strange to her. "Listen now to my last proposition, with which I would have liked to begin, for I knew, and I said beforehand, that you would refuse the first two. Material advantages, and I am ve

dame," Canolles broke

as if he wou

confident that what she was about to say would com

choice, pure and simple,-if, I say, your resignation were to be purchased by an alliance; if a woman, to whom you have said that you loved her, whom you have sworn always to love, and who, notwithstanding your oaths, has never responded directly to your passion, if

is window, had not the darkness come down from heaven during the scene we have been describing,-Canolles remained firm and immovable in his determination; for he

r le Baron de Canolles? Are you not the same man who told me at Chantilly that you loved me, and who repeated it at Jaulnay,-who swore that

at the interview; her frightened eyes followed the direction taken by Canolles' eyes, and he could not look away so quickly that the viscountess did no

of flame through the darkness,

disapp

ized her hat and cloak, and

refuse to abandon or betray; I understand, in short, that there are affections utterly impervious to al

rvice you were pleased to render me, in the name of the friendship that you owe me for the service I rendered you, in the name of all those who love you and whom you love-and I except not one-d

oung man started a

them come on! I look for the enemy with more ardor than will ever impel him to come to me. I feel the need of fighting, I feel the need of danger to raise me in my own esteem; let the struggl

said Claire, walk

idor he seized her hand, and said, in so low a tone t

ed you; but it is my misfortune that I can pr

sooner was she out of the chateau than a pitiful sob b

n't love me! And I, poor miserable wretc