"Come to my heart, and let me, for one blissful moment, feel the beatings of yours! Come, oh, come!"
Margaret leaned her head upon his shoulder and wept, while the emperor besought her to relent and return to Vienna with him.
"No, sire," replied she, firmly. "Farewell!"
He echoed "farewell," and hastily left the room.
When the door had closed upon him, the countess covered her face with her hands and sobbed aloud. But this was for a moment only.
Her pale face resumed its haughty expression as she rose from her seat and hastily pulled the bell-rope. A few minutes later, she unbolted the door, and Madame Dupont entered the room.
"My good friend," said the countess, "we leave Paris to-night."
"Alone?" asked the maid, looking around.
"Yes; rejoice with me, we are rid of him forever. But we must leave this place at once. Go and order post-horses."
"But dear lady, whither do we journey?"