“Enough of this,” said the lady, exerting all her firmness; “it is unwise to recall the past, nor is this a fitting time to indulge in reminiscences of pain or pleasure; the night is fleeting fast, and every moment of delay is attended with danger.”

“What mean you?” asked La Tour, a sudden hope of release darting through his mind; “I fear no danger; but you may well dread a tyrant’s wrath, should you be seen hovering around a prison, which he would be loath to cheer with one ray of brightness.”

“I must first see you depart,” she replied; “and then, I trust, the good saints will guide me safely back to the couch of my sick infant, from which I stole, when every eye was closed in sleep, to attempt your liberation.”

“My liberation!” said La Tour, in surprise; “may heaven bless you for the kind thought, Adele; but you deceive yourself, if you admit the possibility of effecting it.”

“You know not my resources,” she answered, with a smile; “but listen to my plan, and you will no longer remain incredulous; I am persuaded the chance of success is much greater than the danger of discovery, and unless we do succeed, I fear you will have much, and long to suffer.”

“There is no chance which I would not hazard,” said La Tour, “to free myself from this hateful prison, which is more intolerable to me than the most hopeless dungeon ever invented by despotic jealousy.  Yet I would endure any sufferings, rather than involve you in difficulty, or for an instant expose you to the suspicion of one, too unrelenting, I well know, to extend forgiveness, even to those who have the strongest claims on his tenderness.”

“Passion and prejudice render you unjust,” said Mad. d’Aulney; “but this hour and place are too dangerous to authorize idle scruples, and what is to be done can admit of no delay.  Yet I will first remove your apprehensions on my account, by assuring you, that my husband thinks me ignorant of your situation, and, of course, my interference in your escape cannot be suspected.”  She blushed deeply as she added, “from whatever cause, he has carefully concealed your imprisonment from me, and induced me to believe, that a lieutenant, only, led on your people to the engagement with him, and that he was the present occupant of this apartment.  I need not add, that the transient glimpse I accidentally obtained of you, undeceived me, and that I have confined this discovery entirely to my own breast.”

“Dastard!” exclaimed La Tour, indignantly; “this jealous care accords well with the baseness of his heart; and I wonder not that he fears to lose the affection which was so unjustly gained, if, indeed, it were ever truly his.”

“Must I again ask you, La Tour,” she said, with a displeased air, “to refrain from these invectives, which I may not, cannot listen to, and which render my attempt to serve you, almost criminal?”

“Forgive me this once only, madam,” said La Tour, “and I will endeavor not to offend again.  And now, will you have the goodness to impart your plan to me; and, if you are excluded from blame and danger, how shall I bless the generous courage which prompted you to appear in my behalf!”