'When you have seen Marie Louise of Lorraine, you will think of me no more.'
'Peste! my dear Nicola, I have no desire to see your Mademoiselle Marie Louise; nor shall I trust myself near the dangerous vicinity of her or her people, at least until I exchange the costume of an abbé for the iron trappings of the Garde du Corps Ecossais.'
'And we shall have parted at the gates of Nanci?' said she, in a low voice.
'Ah, Nicola,' I replied, 'you know not how the anticipation of that parting wrings my heart!'
I sighed, and drew her close and closer still to my breast: she made no resistance; but I was conscious that she wept bitterly, and this secret emotion moved me deeply, and brought my passion to a height.
'Nicola,' said I, abruptly; 'will you marry me, dear Nicola? Oh, you do not know how much—how tenderly, I love you!'
'Marry me—a poor soubrette—you, a chevalier of the King's Guard—one of the proud noblesse of the Guard du Corps Ecossais!'
'Yes—I, Nicola.'
'Oh, monsieur, you must not speak in this way, or think of such a thing; I am only a poor girl!'
'Why?'