Beaune

“ The other objections of the Bourguignon have more show of reason. “Champagne is a wine,” says he, “which is neither strong, nor full-bodied, nor generous. It is weak, insipid, and watery, liable to change colour, incapable of bearing exportation, or a long journey; whereas Volnay was drunk in Poland at the coronation of Sobieski, and Beaune was served at Venice by Comandante Morosini at the entertainment which he gave the senators after the conquest of the Morea, when it was considered one of the first wines of Europe.” ”

“ The Prince rose.
“What of your former rulers?” he asked.
“They can do nothing with the people. M. de Witt is ill—loathed.”
“Mynheer,” answered William, “the States dealt hardly with me—I have been virtually a prisoner all my life—it is strange they should come to me now.”
“It may be, but Your Highness’ voice is the only one that can make itself heard,” said M. Beuningen in a tone of despair. “The people will turn to you.... If in vain ... God have mercy upon us.”
“You credit me with great powers.... Do I not hear it said that the man who pits himself against France must be mad?” ”

“ Luc leant forward, and with a bent poker stirred the fire into a sparkle of embers.
“I fear, Monsieur le Maréchal,” he said, “that you begin to grow old.”
The Duke laughed.
“Old!” he repeated. “Old!” He rose. “My God! do you think I am old? Look at me, Monsieur—am I old?”
Luc turned his head towards him.
“I can scarcely see you at all,” he said serenely. “I only see something gold and purple. I am, Monsieur, half blind.”
The Duke stared at him.
“If I was stricken like you, I would fall on my sword!” he exclaimed impulsively.
“Each has his own courage,” replied Luc. ”

“ Her face was as full of splendour
As the primrose woods in spring,
When God bends through the branches,
To hear the mavis sing.
She was but a Mary Martyr, cursed for her heresy,
But her eyes were clear as water and troubled the heart in me."
The Countess rose swiftly.
"Are you glad to be in London?" she said; she came towards him, swinging her gloves; he was aware of the perfume of her garments, of the heavy soft sound of her moving velvet.
"I think I am leaving again for Paris, madam," he looked at her straightly. "Shall I not fetch Miss Chressham?"
"No," answered Lady Lyndwood. ”

“ He could hardly control his features and his voice.
“I must appeal to Your Highness—in the name of the States,” he said thickly, “for we have no hope but in you....”
“What do you mean, my lord?” asked William softly.
Coenraad Beuningen rose.
“I think these men have made private overtures to Your Highness,” he answered, “and you are free to take them ... but ... have pity on the country.” He clasped his hand passionately over his heart. “To such wretched straits are we reduced.... Ah, they tempted your ambition I doubt not, but if Your Highness would be truly great, save the United Provinces.” ”

“ A bitter little smile curved the Cardinal's lips.
"Is that the way men care for women?" he said. "Certes, not in that manner had I wooed and remembered, had I been a—a—lover."
"Strange that we, meeting here like this, should talk of love!" cried Theirry, his heart heaving, his eyes dilating, "strange that I, driven round the world by fear of God, that I, coming here to one of God's own saints, should find myself in the Devil's net again; come, he has done much for you, what will he do for me?" ”

“ I feel the years grow marvellously heavy and my body full of the evils of old age. So little done, so much to do! For all of us, such a little while."
"Many more years for thee, son Oliver," she replied. "Many more and much to do in them! If there be something to be done in England, wilt thou not do it?"
"Surely," he said, straightening himself, "for I am English—it is the English who now testify most for the Lord, and He out of His mercy hath given us great gifts."
The last sunlight had faded from the narrow street, and the precise chamber was growing dark. ”

“ As he clasped the plain hilt, a sudden exaltation shot into his heart, his spirit leapt suddenly to a greater height than any it had touched before. And then it happened.
A dazzle of unbelievable light opened before his inner vision, he fell on his knees and, from a sword of fire, received the accolade of God....
"Lord, I am saved!" he cried. "I am in Grace! And I am chosen to be Thy servant in this work which is to be done in England...."
When the glamour faded he rose, staggering, and wept a little for joy. ”

“ Sir Francis eyed him keenly.
"I do not take your mood, my lord. This cannot be ignored."
The Earl lifted his shoulders.
"Oh, if you like to challenge every hack in Grub Street!"
"I do not think one of those wrote that, Lord Lyndwood."
"Who else? There is no one in town who has not been so written of. I am well used to it; and as to the lady——"
"As to the lady?" Sir Francis took him up with a strained voice and his eyes narrowed and grew fiery.
"Am I her protector?" asked my lord. "By Gad, it would give a colour to it if I interfered, would it not?" ”

“ Even this confinement irks me. If I live, I shall go back to my ambitions.”
“Something is wrong,” said Carola; “you or I—or God.”
“Why?” he answered, with a grave gentleness. “I thought you had found happiness.”
“I have found an opiate, Monsieur.”
They were both silent; then she turned towards the door.
Her splendid dress was as incongruous here as it had been in the wet fields; it jarred on Luc to see her in such surroundings.
He turned suddenly and followed her. “You beautiful, foolish woman,” he cried, “what are you doing in a convent? Go back to Versailles.” ”

“ A wave of faintness came over him; he felt impelled to catch at the long embroidered window strap that hung over the side of the coach door to prevent himself from falling. He could make no answer.
“This is my message,” said the Countess, rather hurriedly and in a lowered voice: “I want you to come to my garden to-morrow about four o’clock. Knock at the door in the Rue Deauville—you remember that it is the street that runs at the end of the garden. You will know the door, for the knocker is shaped like a woman’s head.”
Luc caught his breath; he was still feeling dizzy. ”

“ The Master of Stair flushed darkly and put his hands to his black velvet cravat as if he would have torn it in rage.
"Who told you that?" he exclaimed fiercely.
"Does it matter?" she answered. "I know, and all England shall know. And you will not dare to touch them—not even you."
"Who told you," he repeated thickly. "What spies have I about my affairs? Who told you?"
Delia laid her hand on the door.
"You can arrest us all," she said quietly. "You can go to the furthest limits of your law, use your foully-won triumph, but you cannot prevent this truth from circling London." ”

“ He bent over the bed on which they had laid her slight figure, and his tumbled hair touched her hollow cheek. The Countess did not speak.
In the outer chamber was sudden commotion.
"'Tis my lady's father, nor will he be stopped."
Through the gaping crowds of servants a man's figure thrust forward. The Earl moved to the door of the inner chamber. Mr. Hilton, motioning aside those who sought to speak to or impede him, caught sight of my lord.
"Where is Lavinia?" he cried at a pitch of passion that was regardless of all about him. "I will speak to her, and to you, Lord Lyndwood." ”

“ A bar of clear sunlight fell through the half-open door across her gown and across the floor. The sounds from the carpenter’s shed came distinctly, and then presently the cold call of the convent bell. Luc remained in an attitude of arrested movement, with his hands at his heart and his deep eyes on her. Unnatural beauty rested on his absorbed face, which was flushed and quivering.
“Monsieur,” said Carola, “when you have attained—but words are useless; and after all, I do not think that you will ever forget me.”
“No, Clémence,” he answered, with great sweetness. ”

“ The Earl turned to the door.
"I will go find Marius," he said shortly, and left them.
"Rose is out of humour," remarked his mother.
"Yes," said Susannah abruptly.
The Countess looked absently at the reflection of her frail charming person in the mirror by the bookcase.
"And no wonder, my dear, all day shut up in a coach with that girl! And Rose of all men!" She laughed, half under her breath.
Miss Chressham glanced at her in a kind of shock.
"What do you think of her?" she asked.
"She is impossible!" answered the Countess at once. "Gauche, vapourish, no style, a little sullen, I think. ”

“ The Prince looked keenly at this fair woman who might have so easily been brilliant and who was so extraordinarily passive and so unnaturally patient; it was not the first time he had noticed her utter self-effacement.
"Child," he said kindly, "I fear your service is a dull one and your mistress difficult."
"I hope for nothing better, Your Highness," replied Rénèe quickly.
"You are very pretty to be so meek," smiled William.
The warm colour rushed to the waiting-woman's face; she stood looking down at the gathered cards in her hands. ”

“ He rose from his seat. "I want you, yourself—Venus as well as the apple, my dear."
She was breathing painfully.
"You—you would suggest I go with you?"
"Yes."
"You—you think I will?"
"By God! I think so."
Her fingers had closed over the chain across her bosom; she saw how he watched this.
"What else am I to steal from Sir Gilbert for you?" she asked; she moved away from him, but he leaned forward and caught at her glittering dress where the cloak fell aside.
"Are we to palter here until the old man sees us? Sophie, I am tired of England. Come with me back to France." ”

“ We have been endeavouring to raise the Devil and have made a failure of it, that is all.”
“A stale game,” said Luc scornfully. “And you were profaning the dead, Monsieur.”
“A peasant! A heretic!” cried the other, with an instant return of haughtiness. “And who are you to call me to account?” At this the priest touched him on the arm, and he added in a quiet tone, “You are scarcely a spy, Monsieur.” ”

“ You are not fit to mix with us, you know. And you exist upon my charity. I am always good to you! Understand that!"
"I—I know," squeaked the figure, whose white cloak was soiled and stained, while those two long slits for the eyes under the pointed hood gave it a most weird and forbidding appearance.
"I hope you appreciate all I've done for you," Boyne went on. "If I had not risked all this, where would you have been—tried and executed in the hangman's noose. But I have done my best—though often you don't appreciate it."
"I—I do!" cried the voice from behind that strange disguise. ”

“ William leant forward, resting against the table; his eyes filled with tears, and he gave a short cough as if he caught his breath.
"You ask too much of any man—to rule this country under the disadvantages that whelm me," he said faintly. "I was not made to be cabined in these small factions——"
"We cannot do without Your Majesty," said Halifax sharply. "Are all your glorious deeds and achievements to end in this, sir?"
The King put his hand before his eyes and sobbed heavily.
"O God," cried Godolphin, in bitter distress, "what pass is here?" He turned on the others. ”

“ A stone crashed up at the balcony and again came: "Glencoe!"
He glanced at the clock and rang a bell; when the servant appeared in answer, he asked for lights. "And order the coach," he said.
The man hesitated, stopped.
"My lord—my lord—you will not go abroad?"
"To my Lord Breadalbane's reception," answered the Earl. "My lord—does your lordship hear the mob?"
The Earl flared with impatience.
"I do not ask your attendance—if there be one man in my service not a coward let him drive, it will suffice." ”

“ Lilla laughed at the grimace her husband made.
Boyne left her at once, and ascending to his bedroom, shaved, exchanged his clothes for a smart evening suit, and carefully brushed his hair, until, when he descended, he presented the ideal man-about-town whose evening clothes were well worn and who wore his soft-fronted shirt as one accustomed to it every night. The man unused to the claw-hammer coat is always to be noticed in a crowd, just as is the woman who, putting on an evening frock occasionally, hitches it up on the shoulder and is palpably uncomfortable in it. ”

“ He is kind to every one, he finds it the easier way. I have always been curst. I wish I were dead; and now we are ruined too."
"Consider, Madame, the Prince has made these sacrifices to help the Reformers, and you are a Lutheran."
"Lutheran or Papist are nothing to me," answered Anne, "nor God either—why did He make women curst and crooked?"
She lifted her head, and, seeing Rénèe with her arms full 275of clothes, she called out imperiously, "Put down those things! I will never leave the Netherlands!" ”

“ He's a most pertinacious person, it seems. We have, I think, more to fear from him than from the girl," Boyne said.
"Didn't I express doubt a week or so ago, but you assured me that it was all right?" retorted the handsome woman. "Well—what are you going to do?"
"Do! Why, there's only one way—put an end to their inquisitiveness," he replied.
"Do be careful."
Oh, I will be—never fear. But I shall want your assistance, Lilla, and perhaps Ena's too. Neither the man nor the girl is acquainted with either of you, which is one point in our favour." ”

“ He had come in often when they were at No. 17 and sat for hours in the lamplight, with his shadow gesticulating behind him on the wall.
"Nobody needs me," she was saying. "Nobody wants me, really, except him. I see it now, and I've got to———"
"What about me? Don't I count? Don't I need you? What about all these years; the housekeeping?" His voice rose to a wail, "and what the devil am I to do about the move?"
"Of course I'll see you through the move. ”