s Seyton momentarily increased. Commissioned by
Rodolph, who was waiting in an adjoining room, to acquaint Sarah that
Fleur-de-Marie still lived, he knew not how to proceed. So feeble was
the state of the countess's health, that an instant might extinguish the
faint spark that still animated her frame; and he saw that any delay in
performing the nuptial rite between herself and the prince might be
fatal to every hope. Determined to legitimise the birth of
Fleur-de-Marie by giving every necessary formality to the ceremony, the
prince had brought with him a clergyman to perform the sacred service,
and two witnesses in the persons of Murphy and Baron de Grauen. The Duc
de Lucenay and Lord Douglas, hastily summoned by Seyton, had arrived to
act as attesting witnesses on the part of the countess.

Each moment became important, but the remorse of Sarah, mingled as it
was with a maternal tenderness that had entirely replaced the fiery
ambition that once held sway in her breast, rendered the task of Seyton
still more difficult. He could but hope that his sister deceived either
herself or him, and that her pride and vanity would rekindle in all
their former brightness at the prospect of the crown so long and
ardently coveted.

"Sister," resumed Seyton, in a grave and solemn voice, "I am placed in a
situation of cruel perplexity. I could utter one word of such deep
importance that it might save your life or stretch you a corpse at my
feet."

"I have already told you nothing in this world can move me more."

"Yes, one--one event, my sister."

"And what is that?"

"Your daughter's welfare."

"I have no longer a child,--she is dead!"

"But if she were not?"

"Cease, brother, such useless suppositions,--we exhausted that subject
some minutes since. Leave me to unavailing regrets!"

"Nay, but I cannot so easily persuade myself that if, by some almost
incredible chance, some unhoped-for aid, your daughter had been snatched
from death, and still lived--"

"I beseech you talk not thus to me,--you know not what I suffer."

"Then listen to me, sister, while I declare that, as the Almighty shall
judge you and pardon me, your daughter lives!"

"Lives! said you? My child lives?"

"I did, and truly so; the prince, with a clergyman and the necessary
witnesses, awaits in the adjoining chamber; I have summoned two of our
friends to act as our witnesses. The desire of your life is at length
accomplished, the prediction fulfilled,