ppiness in store for us, and that very
shortly."

"Do you doubt me, Raoul?"

"I do not doubt you, Melanie. But ever as in my own wildest rapture,
even to gain my own extremest bliss, I would not do aught that could
possibly cast one shadow on your pure renown, so, mark me, would I not
take you to my heart were there one spot, though it were but as a
speck in the all-glorious sun, upon the brightness of your purity."

"I believe you, Raoul. I feel, I know that my honor, that my purity is
all in all to you.

"I would die a thousand deaths," he made answer, "ere even a false
report should fall on it, to mar its virgin whiteness. Marvel not
then that I ask as much of you."

"Ask anything, St. Renan. It _is_ granted."

"In France we can hope for nothing. But there are other lands than
France. We must fly; and thanks to these documents which you have
wrung from them, and the proofs which I can easily obtain, this cursed
marriage can be set aside, and then, in honor and in truth you can be
mine, mine own Melanie."

"God grant it so, Raoul."

"It shall be so, beloved. Be you but firm, and it may be done right
speedily. I will sell the estates of St. Renan--by a good chance,
supposing me dead, the Lord of Yrvilliac was in treaty for it with my
uncle. That can be arranged forthwith. Conduct yourself according to
your wont, cool and as distant as may be with this villain of
Ploermel; avoid above all things to let your father see that you are
buoyed by any hope, or moved by any passion. Treat the king with
deliberate scorn, if he approach you over boldly. Beware how you eat
or drink in his company, for he is capable of all things, even of
drugging you into insensibility, and here," he added, taking a small
poniard, of exquisite workmanship, with a gold hilt and scabbard, from
his girdle, and giving it to her, "wear _this_ at all times, and if he
dare attempt violence, were he thrice a king, _use it_!"

"I will--I will--trust me, Raoul! I _will_ use it, and that to his
sorrow! My heart is strong, and my hand brave _now_--now that I know
you to be living. Now that I have hope to nerve me, I will fear
nothing, but dare all things."

"Do so, do so, my beloved, and you shall have no cause to fear, for I
will be ever near you. I will tarry here but one day; and ere you
reach Paris, I will be there, be certain. Within ten days, I doubt not
I can convert my acres into gold, and ship that gold across the narrow
straits; and th