Alexandre Dumas

“ Emotion followed her surprise, and tears gushed into her eyes as she kissed Andrea's hand.
Nicole began to think that Gilbert had rejected her from fear of poverty, and that now she had funds, she had better marry the ambitious spark to whom she would appear more desirable. But a germ of pride mingled with the generosity, as she wanted to humble one who had jilted her.
"It looks as though you really loved your Gilbert," observed the lady. "How incredible for something in the lad to please you. I must have a look at this lady-killer next time I see him." ”

“ At least if I have not dealt Death a death-blow, I have given him a thrust under which he will find it hard to rise. You see, my son, that the human frame has brittle bones—I will harden and yet supple them like steel. It has blood which, in flowing out, carries life with it—I will stop the flow. The skin and flesh are soft—I will tan them so that they will turn the edge of steel and blunt the points of spears, while bullets will flatten against it. Only let an Althotas live three hundred years. Well, give me what I want, and I shall live a thousand. Oh, my dear Acharat, all depends on you. ”

“ I forgot that your eminence seeks something else than gold, a more precious boon than all earthly gifts; but that does not come within the scope of science as in the range of magic. Say the word, my lord, and the alchemist will become a magician, to serve you."
"Thank you, I need nothing and desire no longer," sighed the prelate.
"My lord," sighed the tempter, drawing nearer, "such a reply ought not to be made to a wizard by a prince, young, fiery, handsome, rich and bearing the name of Rohan. Because the wizard reads hearts and knows to the contrary." ”

“ THE LOVELY LORENZA.
The woman who was in the fore part of the coach, in the cab, remained for a time deprived of sense. As fear alone had caused the swoon, she came to consciousness.
"Heavens!" she cried, "am I abandoned helpless here, with no human being to take pity upon me?"
"Lady," said a timid voice at hand, "I am here, and I may be some help to you."
Passing her head and both arms out of the cab by the leather curtains, the young woman, rising, faced a youth who stood on the steps. ”

“ These words kindled a flame in the hearer's eyes; he so started that he broke a flower rebellious to being packed away.
"These may not be your principles, but they are Rousseau's."
"Dry stuff for a youth," said the other; "sad matter for contemplation at twenty years of age; a dry and scentless flower for imagination in the springtide of life."
"Misfortune ripens a man unseasonably, sir."
"As you study the philosopher of Geneva, do you make a personal allusion there?"
"I do not know anything about him," rejoined Gilbert, candidly.
"Know, young man, that he is an unhappy creature." ”

“ During the quarter of an hour they had trudged on, the rain had ceased, and the earth sent up the sharp tang replacing the sulphurous breath of the thunderstorms.
"Do you know what storms are?" questioned Gilbert, after deep musing.
"Thunder and lightning are the result of a shock between the electricity in the air and in the earth," he said, smiling.
"I do not follow you," sighed Gilbert.
The traveler might have supplied a more lucid explanation but a light glimmered through the trees.
"That is the carriage-gateway of Taverney," said the guide. ”

“ One dies in three days—another lives a hundred years! Men, equals before they have conquered death? Oh, the brute, the triple brute!"
Althotas sat back to laugh more freely at Balsamo, who kept his head lowered, gloomy and thoughtful. His instructor took pity on him.
"Unhappy sophist that you are, bear in mind one thing, that men will not be equals until they are immortal. Then they will be gods, and these alone are undying."
"Immortal—what a dream!" sighed the mesmerist.
"Dream? so is the steam, the electric fluid, all that we are hunting after and not yet caught—a dream. ”

“ To whatever step on the social ladder Gilbert might rise by dint of genius, science and study, he would always be a man or a thing—according to her own words, for which her father was wrong in paying any attention, and not worth her lowering her eyes upon.
He had briefly fancied that, on seeing him in the capital, and learning his resolution to struggle till he came up through the darkness, Andrea would applaud the effort. Not only had the cheer failed the brave boy, but he had met the haughty indifference always had for the dependent by the young lady of the manor. ”

“ Those young women are no enemies of yours—they are Mademoiselle Andrea of Taverney, the young lady I told you of, on whose estate I was born, and her maid Nicole. Excuse me troubling you with such matters, but you drive me to it. This is the lady whom I love more than you ever loved all your flames. It is she whom I followed afoot, penniless and wanting bread, until I fell exhausted on the highway and racked with pain. It is she whom I saw once more yesterday at St. Denis, and behind whose coach I came till I housed her in the place yonder. ”

“ The prince had no sooner saluted the princess than he exclaimed with surprise on seeing Balsamo:
"Are you here, my lord?"
"Are you acquaintances?" cried the princess, more and more astonished. "Then you can tell me who this is."
"Nothing is easier; the gentleman is a magician."
"His eminence will make this clear presently, and to everybody's satisfaction," said the count.
"Has the gentleman been telling your highness' fortune, that I see you so affected?" questioned the cardinal. ”

“ Who was thinking about Taverney?—not a soul. My name slept under Redcastle ruins not to come forth till I arranged the fit time; and here comes the freak of a royal babe to pull us out into public, dusty, tattered and beggarly. The newspapers, always on the lookout for food for fun, will make a pretty comic talk of the brilliant princess's visit to the Taverney hovel. But, death of my life! an idea strikes me. I know history, and of the Count of Medina setting fire to his palace to win a queen's attention. I will burn down my kennel for a bonfire to the Dauphin's bride. ”

“ Countess," added the duke, "here is one of my oldest friends, for whom I beg your kindness—Baron Taverney of Redcastle."
"The father of that pair," said Jean and Jeanne to themselves, as they bowed in salutation.
"My lords and gentlemen," shouted the grand master of ceremonies, "to your places in the coaches."
The two aged nobles bowed to the favorite and her brother, and went into the same vehicle, glad to be united after long absence.
"What do you say to that? I do not like the old fellow a whit better than the cubs," said Jean Dubarry.
"What a pity that the little imp, Gilbert, ran away. ”

“ Seizing the first mold with the powerful tongs, he threw it into a tub of water, which seethed and steamed for a long time; at length he opened it, and drew out an ingot of purest gold in the shape of a sugarloaf, flattened at both ends.
"We shall have to wait nearly an hour for the other two," said Balsamo. "While waiting, would your eminence not like to sit down and breathe the fresh air?"
"And this is gold!" said the cardinal, without replying, which made the hearer smile, for he had firm hold of him now.
"Does your eminence doubt?"
"Science has so many times been deceived." ”

“ It is the work of the Duke of Choiseul. I shall leave the field free for my foes, and quit a realm where the ruler is daunted by his ministers."
"How dare you?" cried Louis, offended.
Chon understood that her sister was going too far, and she struck in.
She plucked her sister by the dress and said:
"Sire, my sister's love for our poor brother carries her away. I committed the fault and I must repair it. As the most humble subject of your majesty, I merely apply for justice."
"That is good; I only ask to deal justice. If the man has done wrong, let him be chastised." ”

“ Do not be deluded by the splendid gaze, intelligent smile, and queenly port of Andrea de Taverney, whose beauty makes her fit to rule society—she is but a rustic dame, straitlaced, limited, swathed in aristocratic prejudices. Equals for her are those empty-headed fops, with effete minds, who had the means to learn everything and know nothing; they are the men to whom she pays heed. Gilbert is but a dog, less than a dog, for I believe she asked after Mahon, and not about my welfare. ”

“ A few days more of this captivity against which I revolt, and I shall no longer feel obliged to you; a few more, and I shall perhaps believe you were in concert with those highwaymen."
"So you honor me with a captaincy of brigands," sneered Balsamo.
"I do not know about that, but I noticed secret signs and peculiar words."
"But," replied the other, losing color, "you will never tell them; never to a living soul? You will bury them in the remotest place in your memory so that they shall die there, smothered." ”

“ Why flee from your protector? Why unceasingly threaten one who never threatens you, with revelation of secrets which are not yours and have aims beyond anything you can conceive?"
"Oh," said Lorenza, without replying to the question, "the prisoner who yearns for freedom eventually obtains it, and your house bars will no more hold me than your wagon-sides."
"Happily for you, they are stout," replied Balsamo, with ominous tranquillity.
"Heaven will send another such storm as befel us in Lorraine, and some thunderbolt will shatter them."
"Take my advice to pray for nothing of the kind, Lorenza ”

“ The mob flocked to see it, a carriage superior to any the dauphiness had; with the Dubarry war-cry emblazoned on the panels: "Charge Onward!" palliated by doves billing and cooing on one side, and a heart transfixed with a dart on the other. The whole was enriched with the attributes of Cupid bows, quivers and the hymeneal torch. This coach was to be at the door at nine.
While the preparations were proceeding at the favorites' the news ran round the town.
Idle and indifferent as the Parisians pretend to be, they are fonder of novelty than any other people. ”