'I had a narrow escape in the assault, for Ramsay's Scots blew up the powder-magazine—a pleasant little piece of excitement, which cost twenty of them their lives. But how have you wearied of your captaincie?'
'Because I am weary of my life.'
'With a prisoner so fair in ward—a widow, a virgin widow too—lovely in her weeds and tears!'
'Dundrennan, I will kill you!'
'No, you will not; but you shall listen to me and to reason.'
'Reason from you, Viscount?'
'Yes,' said he, becoming grave; 'is your passion real?'
'Alas, too real!'
'Then conquer it, if it cannot prosper.'
'Folly, Viscount—a real passion cannot be conquered; a fanciful one can alone be stifled.'