d.

"I have been considering for the last quarter of an hour."

"Oh! my lord," I said; "it is true these infatuated men have broken the
laws, but truly they are more the objects of your contempt than your
wrath. Be magnanimous, my lord, and the transgressors will fall at
your feet in repentance, and never again----"

"What!" interrupted the mareschale, "these men are incorrigible. They
are rebels, furious, audacious rebels. Am I to let this accursed weed
luxuriate until it can perpetrate a second Michelade?"[2]

"No, my lord," I said, seizing his hand, which was hanging down; "you
are too just to attribute to these unfortunate persons cruelties which
happened nearly a century and a half ago."

"It is time to set a severe example," said the mareschale, who to this
moment had been undecided. He withdrew his hand, rode a few paces
forward without further noticing me, and cried, with a loud voice,
"Fire the mill!"

Cold with terror, I staggered after him, seized the reins of his horse,
and cried, "For God's sake mercy, mercy."

"Begone," he cried, casting a furious look at me, and flourishing his
stick as if he would strike me. I let go the horse and fell upon my
knees before this cold-blooded demon, crying, "Mercy!"

I heard the crackling and hissing of the flames, saw the thick clouds
of smoke rolling over the roof of the mill, and then heard the horrible
cries of those enclosed within. I sprang up again and clasped the
mareschale's knees, but God only knows what I cried to him in my
anguish. He heard me not, he had no humanity; the pious tiger only
looked upon the burning mill.

Soon my voice was drowned amidst the wild roar around, the cries of
those consigned to death, and the thunder of the carabines. Those who
endeavoured to escape the flames were shot down by the dragoons.

I started up and ran to the mill. At this moment a girl threw herself
from the window. I caught her in my arms; it was Antonia my uncle's
youngest daughter.

"You are saved, Antonia," said I, carrying away the poor creature
through the smoke and fire, and came up, without knowing it, to the
mareschale.

"The dog!" he cried, "I always said he was one of them!" I knew not he
spoke of me.

"Down with them!" he shouted again. Two dragoons tore the fainting
girl from my arms, and while she lay on the ground these ruffians shot
the innocent creature at my feet.

"It serves the cursed heretics right!" said the mareschale ca