posure, your words are riddles to me.

_Gasp._ My lord! 'tis of the poor lunatic she speaks; she whom the baron
has confined: this woman claims her as her charge.

_De Val._I saw the person not, but heard in brief her story from the
baron; rest, good woman, rest; my kinsman is her friend.

_Mon._ No, no, he is a monster thirsting for her blood: here, here,
I have read his character.

(Producing Eugenia's MSS.)

_De Val._ Beware! you offend me; grief yields no privilege to slander.

_Mon._ I am not a slanderer, indeed, _indeed_, I am not; here are
proofs: your lordship, I find, is called the Count De Valmont; had you
not once a relation of the same title, who fell in battle with the
Huguenots eighteen years ago!

_De Val._ Never.

_Mon._ Yet 'twas the same title: ay, here 'tis written: "in forcing the
passage of the Durance."

_De Val._ How! 'tis of myself assuredly you read; I was reported falsely
in that very action to have fallen; and for a time my death was credited
through France.

_Mon._ Ah! my lord! my lord! O! it rushes on my heart--nay, give but a
moment; speak; were you once wedded to a lady named Eugenia?

_De Val._ Woman! ah, name beloved!--wherefore that torturing question?

_Mon._ Yes, yes; it is--it must be so--I cannot, here--read--this!--
(_giving the scroll_).

_De Val._ Eternal Powers! Eugenia's well-known character! when and
whence did you procure this writing?

_Mon._ This very morning, from her own hand, my lord, Eugenia lives to
bless and to be blessed again.

(_De Valmont_ starts as if stricken to the center, for a moment
his features express amazement, then incredulity, and lastly
indignation.)

_De Val._ Begone! thou wretched woman, lest I forget thy sex, and kill
thee for thy cruelty.

_Mon._ Nay, let me die, but not be doubted: read, read, and let your
eyes assure your soul of joy!

(The _Count_ faintly staggers back into a seat, and then fastens
his eyes upon the scroll with a frenzied earnestness.)

_Gasp._ Woman! if you have spoken falsely, my noble master's heart will
break at once.

_Mon._ By the great issue, let my words be judged!

_De Val._ (_reading_) "The chamber burst in flames, I snatched my infant
from its slumber, I heard the voice of Longueville direct our murder,
ruffians rushed towards us to perform his bidding." (_starting forward
with uncontrolable fury_) Oh! God of wrath and vengeance! hear thou a
husband's and a father's