k. Moreover, had
he wished to remain passive, he could not have done so; he was now
compelled to follow that fatal law of crime which demands that blood
must be effaced with blood, and which is compelled to appeal again to
death in order to stifle the accusing voice already issuing from the
tomb.

Edouard de Lamotte, loving his mother as much as she loved him, became
uneasy at receiving no visits, and was astonished at this sudden
indifference. Derues wrote to him as follows:

"I have at length some good news for you, my dear boy, but you must not
tell your mother I have betrayed her secret; she would scold me, because
she is planning a surprise for you, and the various steps and care
necessary in arranging this important matter have caused her absence.
You were to know nothing until the 11th or 12th of this month, but
now that all is settled, I should blame myself if I prolonged the
uncertainty in which you have been left, only you must promise me to
look as much astonished as possible. Your mother, who only lives for
you, is going to present you with the greatest gift a youth of your
age can receive--that of liberty. Yes, dear boy, we thought we had
discovered that you have no very keen taste for study, and that a
secluded life will suit neither your character nor your health. In
saying this I utter no reproach, for every man is born with his own
decided tastes, and the way to success and happiness is-often-to allow
him to follow these instincts. We have had long discussions on this
subject--your mother and I--and we have thought much about your future;
she has at last come to a decision, and for the last ten days has been
at Versailles, endeavouring to obtain your admission as a royal page.
Here is the mystery, this is the reason which has kept her from you,
and as she knew you would hear it with delight, she wished to have the
pleasure of telling you herself. Therefore, once again, when you see
her, which will be very soon, do not let her see I have told you; appear
to be greatly surprised. It is true that I am asking you to tell a lie,
but it is a very innocent one, and its good intention will counteract
its sinfulness--may God grant we never have worse upon our consciences!
Thus, instead of lessons and the solemn precepts of your tutors, instead
of a monotonous school-life, you are going to enjoy your liberty; also
the pleasures of the court and the world. All that rather alarms me,
and I ought to confess that I