“You?”

“I?—­who but I?  Do you think I have been idle, or that I have left anything undone that I could think to do?  Child, the sun has never risen on me since I saw him last!  They say I am dead to the world.  But they who say it know not how terribly true their words are.  Shall I tell you how many times, when the weary days have come to an end, I have said, in the morning I would make that loathsome bargain with General Saterges, and in the morning God’s grace, as I believe, has alone prevented me?  Do you think that it is because I love myself better than him, that I have not bought his freedom at this price?  It is because I know him,—­because I am sure that liberty at such price would be worthless to him.  I cannot torture him with the belief that I am unfaithful, nor suffer him to look on me as a sacrifice.  We can endure what God allows.  Trust me.  You have done so bravely, you are yourself so true, believe in me.  I am really no coward.  I am not a selfish woman.”

“Forgive me,” said Elizabeth, most humbly.  Her pride had left her defenceless in its flight.  If there was not now the true, brave, generous woman to lift and proclaim herself from the humiliation of her mistake, alas for her!

The woman was there,—­ready and true,—­was there.  Humbled, yet resolute, she spoke,—­and in her speaking was the triumph of a spirit that should never again surrender its stronghold of peace.

“You must direct me, Madam.  Show me how I shall find this minister.  I will speak then as God’s servants spoke of old,—­trusting in Him.  If the man will not hear me, then I will conduct you to Foray.  You shall see Mr. Manuel.  You can live—­with us.  My mother’s heart is kind, and my father is a soldier; we shall all love to serve you.  Let us take courage!  They cannot prevent us here.  You could endure exile for him?”

“Exile?  Ah, how do you shame me!  All these years I might have”—­

“No,” said Elizabeth, hurriedly.  “Never till now.  You could not.  The way was not open till this day.  Love, too must have its servants.  I am yours and his.  I trust in God.  In His time he has opened His own way.”

By Mlle. Desperiers’s management, Elizabeth without difficulty obtained audience, the next day, of the chief ministerial power of the realm.

I shall attempt no pictorial description of that interview.  The men of authority know best how often women come into their presence, burdened with prayers for the pardon of those who have justly, or unjustly, fallen under the displeasure of the powers that be.  From high station and low Love draws its noblest and most courageous witnesses, and the ears of the officials are not always deaf.

The case of Stephen Cordier was of sufficient importance to come under discussion before the governing power as often as that power underwent a change in person or policy.  Twice petitions in his behalf had been presented,—­once by the lady of Chateau Desperiers in person,—­petitions that were in themselves the proudest praise of him, the greatest honor that could be conferred upon him.  They had fallen powerless to the ground.