In him, too, she met one of a class with which she was unaccustomed to hold any near commune; and, at the same time, there was a power, and a freshness, and a graceful enthusiasm in all the young burgher's demeanour, which never can be without effect upon so fine a mind as that of the princess. Perhaps, too, though had she ever dreamed that such a thing as love for her could enter into his imagination, she would have been as cold as ice itself--perhaps, too, she might feel that there was something of admiration in the young burgher's eyes, which she would not encourage, but at which she could not feel offended, and which she might have done something to check, had she not felt afraid of wounding and alienating one whom it was her best interest to attach. Nevertheless, it might be the very desire of doing so, and the fear of giving pain, that agitated her still more, and rendered her manner more changeful and remarkable.
Such were their mutual feelings, varying through a thousand fine shades, which would require a far more skilful hand than that which now writes to portray, when they met on that eventful morning, the sovereign to solicit and the subject to deny.
A few words explained to Albert Maurice the cause of the call he had received to Mary's presence; and the occasion having once been explained, she went on, with gentle but zealous eloquence, with a flushed cheek and a glistening eye, to beseech him, by every motive that she thought likely to move his heart, to save the lives of her faithful servants.
"Indeed, dear lady," he replied, "you attribute to me more power than I possess; for much I fear, that, even were I most anxious to screen two men, accused of selling their native land to a foreign prince, from a judicial trial and judgment, I should be totally unable to bring such a thing to pass. Willingly, most willingly, would I lay down my own life for your service, madam, and be proud to die in such a cause; but to pervert the course of justice would be a far more bitter task to Albert Maurice than to die himself."
"But remember, sir! oh, remember!" replied Mary, "that we are told to show mercy, as we hope for mercy; and still further remember, that, in their dealings with France, the Lords of Imbercourt and Hugonet were authorized by my own hand; and if there were a crime therein committed, I am the criminal alone! The act was mine, not theirs, as under my commands they went."
"Your Grace is too generous," replied the young burgher, "to take upon yourself so great a responsibility, when, in truth, it is none of yours. How reluctant you were to treat with France, no one knows better than I do; and what unjust means must have been used to induce you, I can full well divine."
"Nay, nay, indeed!" she said; "it was my voluntary act, done upon due consideration; and no one is to blame, save myself."
"If, lady," rejoined Albert Maurice, speaking in a low but solemn tone, "if you, indeed, do wish for this French alliance, if you desire to unite yourself with your father's pertinacious enemies, if, as your own voluntary act, you would give your hand to the puny boy, whose numbered days will never see him sovereign of France, and who can alone serve to furnish a new claim to Louis XI. for annexing your territories to his own--if, I say, such be your own sincere desire, I will, most assuredly, announce it to the states general."
"If I say that it is so, will it save the lives of my two faithful servants?" demanded Mary, anxiously, while her heart beat painfully with the struggle between the desire of rescuing her counsellors, and her shrinking abhorrence of the marriage proposed to her. "Will it--tell me--will it save them?"
"I cannot promise that it will," replied Albert Maurice. "The states must decide, whether those who counselled such an act are not still most guilty, though your Grace was prevailed upon to sanction it. Nor, lady, must you think that such a sacrifice on your part would achieve even the pacification of France and Burgundy. Be assured, that there is not an unbought man in all Flanders who would not shed the last drop of his blood ere he would consent to the union of the two countries. Nor do I believe that Louis of France himself would accede. He claims the whole of your lands, madam, upon other titles. Burgundy he calls his own by right of male descent; the districts of the Somme he declares to have been unjustly wrung from the crown of France; and the counties of Flanders and Artois, he says, are his of right, though he has not yet deigned to yield a specification of his claim. Doubtless he has striven to buy your servants and your counsellors; and many of them has he purchased, not to promote your union with his son, but to betray your lands and cities into his power."