He sighed profoundly, and was about to depart, when Blanche awakened, opened her eyes, and called out in terror,—
"O heavens! who is there?"
"It is I, Blanche," answered the marquis in a halting voice.
"You seigneur? so late in my room? What do you want with me?"
"Be calm, I beg of you."
"But you are trembling yourself, seigneur, what has happened?"
"Nothing, nothing; I wished to see you—to speak to you, to look at you once more."
"Ah, don't look at me so, monsieur le marquis, you frighten me."
"Frighten you? Ah, Blanche, is that the feeling with which the most faithful lover should inspire you? Yes, my love is at its height; I can no longer master it; you must make me happy; you must be mine."
The marquis already held Blanche in his arms. The young girl uttered a piercing cry, and gathering her strength, disengaged herself, jumping lightly from her bed, but Villebelle again seized her; he tried to cover her with kisses; he tried to stifle her cries. Blanche threw herself at his feet, extended her arms towards him, supplicatingly, and cried in a heart-breaking-voice,—