“Give me a moment for thought, mademoiselle,” he said, and we heard him pacing up and down the room.
As for me, I felt a great reverence for this woman spring to life in my heart. As I had told Madame du Maine, a woman may do anything but break her word; no woman can do that with honor, no more than any man, and my heart trembled with emotion as I heard the princess take the same high ground,—with her so far above anything of which I had conceived. I prayed that Richelieu might not fall below her. Louise was crying softly.
“Charlotte,” said Richelieu, at last, “you are tearing my heart to pieces, and yet I would not have you other than you are. I was a fool to think you would consent. But,” he continued, in a clearer voice, “I have given no promise, my honor is not engaged. I have already refused to accept this sacrifice. What is there to prevent my taking you up in my arms, opening the door of yonder closet, and with de Brancas at my back running with you to the carriage and starting for the frontier?”
Again there was a moment’s silence.
“Ah, no, no!” she cried, at last. “Do not tempt me further, Louis. What I am doing is for my own honor and for France. My father has told me that France demands it,—that it will strengthen his empire. If you knew how hard it is—how I turn with loathing from the task I have to do—you would not seek to make it harder.”
“De Brancas,” called Richelieu, “come here, my friend.”
I flung the door open and stepped into the room. Mlle. de Valois was half sitting, half lying in a large chair, her face white with suffering, her eyes luminous with a great glory. Richelieu himself was scarcely less affected. He glanced at Louise, who had come from the closet with me and who was kneeling at the side of the princess.
“Good!” he exclaimed. “I am glad to see that you are here, Mlle. Dacour. Charlotte will need a companion. Will you not accompany her?”
“I had intended doing so, M. le Duc,” answered Louise, gently, “whether she went north or south.”
“That is well,” and Richelieu bowed to her with that courtly grace which so well became him. “M. de Brancas and myself had already considered this contingency and he is to join us at Brussels in a week’s time.”