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began to grow in doubts if we were advancing it indeed。
Horrible was the society with which we warred； but our own
means were not less horrible。
'I will not dwell upon my sufferings； I will not pause to
tell you how； when I beheld young men still free and happy；
married； fathers of children； cheerfully toiling at their
work； my heart reproached me with the greatness and vanity of
my unhappy sacrifice。 I will not describe to you how； worn
by poverty； poor lodging； scanty food； and an unquiet
conscience； my health began to fail； and in the long nights；
as I wandered bedless in the rainy streets； the most cruel
sufferings of the body were added to the tortures of my mind。
These things are not personal to me； they are common to all
unfortunates in my position。 An oath； so light a thing to
swear； so grave a thing to break： an oath； taken in the heat
of youth； repented with what sobbings of the heart； but yet
in vain repented； as the years go on： an oath； that was once
the very utterance of the truth of God； but that falls to be
the symbol of a meaningless and empty slavery； such is the
yoke that many young men joyfully assume； and under whose
dead weight they live to suffer worse than death。
'It is not that I was patient。 I have begged to be released；
but I knew too much； and I was still refused。 I have fled；
ay； and for the time successfully。 I reached Paris。 I found
a lodging in the Rue St。 Jacques； almost opposite the Val de
Grace。 My room was mean and bare； but the sun looked into it
towards evening； it commanded a peep of a green garden； a
bird hung by a neighbour's window and made the morning
beautiful； and I； who was sick； might lie in bed and rest
myself： I； who was in full revolt against the principles
that I had served； was now no longer at the beck of the
council； and was no longer charged with shameful and
revolting tasks。 Oh！ what an interval of peace was that！ I
still dream； at times； that I can hear the note of my
neighbour's bird。
'My money was running out； and it became necessary that I
should find employment。 Scarcely had I been three days upon
the search； ere I thought that I was being followed。 I made
certain of the features of the man； which were quite strange
to me； and turned into a small cafe； where I whiled away an
hour； pretending to read the papers； but inwardly convulsed
with terror。 When I came forth again into the street； it was
quite empty； and I breathed again； but alas； I had not turned
three corners； when I once more observed the human hound
pursuing me。 Not an hour was to be lost； timely submission
might yet preserve a life which otherwise was forfeit and
dishonoured； and I fled； with what speed you may conceive； to
the Paris agency of the society I served。
'My submission was accepted。 I took up once more the hated
burthen of that life； once more I was at the call of men whom
I despised and hated； while yet I envied and admired them。
They at least were wholehearted in the things they purposed；
but I； who had once been such as they； had fallen from the
brightness of my faith； and now laboured； like a hireling；
for the wages of a loathed existence。 Ay； sir； to that I was
condemned； I obeyed to continue to live； and lived but to
obey。
'The last charge that was laid upon me was the one which has
to…night so tragically ended。 Boldly telling who I was； I
was to request from your highness； on behalf of my society； a
private audience； where it was designed to murder you。 If
one thing remained to me of my old convictions； it was the
hate of kings； and when this task was offered me； I took it
gladly。 Alas； sir； you triumphed。 As we supped； you gained
upon my heart。 Your character； your talents； your designs
for our unhappy country； all had been misrepresented。 I
began to forget you were a prince； I began； all too
feelingly； to remember that you were a man。 As I saw the
hour approach； I suffered agonies untold； and when； at last；
we heard the slamming of the door which announced in my
unwilling ears the arrival of the partner of my crime； you
will bear me out with what instancy I besought you to depart。
You would not； alas！ and what could I？ Kill you； I could
not； my heart revolted； my hand turned back from such a deed。
Yet it was impossible that I should suffer you to stay； for
when the hour struck and my companion came； true to his
appointment； and he； at least； true to our design； I could
neither suffer you to be killed nor yet him to be arrested。
From such a tragic passage； death； and death alone； could
save me； and it is no fault of mine if I continue to exist。
'But you； madam；' continued the young man； addressing himself
more directly to myself； 'were doubtless born to save the
prince and to confound our purposes。 My life you have
prolonged； and by turning the key on my companion； you have
made me the author of his death。 He heard the hour strike；
he was impotent to help； and thinking himself forfeit to
honour； thinking that I should fall alone upon his highness
and perish for lack of his support； he has turned his pistol
on himself。'
'You are right；' said Prince Florizel： 'it was in no
ungenerous spirit that you brought these burthens on
yourself； and when I see you so nobly to blame； so tragically
punished； I stand like one reproved。 For is it not strange；
madam； that you and I； by practising accepted and
inconsiderable virtues； and commonplace but still
unpardonable faults； should stand here； in the sight of God；
with what we call clean hands and quiet consciences； while
this poor youth； for an error that I could almost envy him；
should be sunk beyond the reach of hope？
'Sir；' resumed the prince； turning to the young man； 'I
cannot help you； my help would but unchain the thunderbolt
that overhangs you； and I can but leave you free。'
'And； sir；' said I； 'as this house belongs to me； I will ask
you to have the kindness to remove the body。 You and your
conspirators； it appears to me； can hardly in civility do
less。'
'It shall be done；' said the young man； with a dismal accent。
'And you； dear madam；' said the prince； 'you； to whom I owe
my life； how can I serve you？'
'Your highness；' I said； 'to be very plain； this is my
favourite house； being not only a valuable property； but
endeared to me by various associations。 I have endless
troubles with tenants of the ordinary class： and at first
applauded my good fortune when I found one of the station of
your Master of the Horse。 I now begin to think otherwise：
dangers set a siege about great personages； and I do not wish
my tenement to share these risks。 Procure me the resiliation
of the lease； and I shall feel myself your debtor。'
'I must tell you； madam；' replied his highness； 'that Colonel
Geraldine is but a cloak for myself； and I should be sorry
indeed to think myself so unacceptable a tenant。'
'Your highness；' said I； 'I have conceived a sincere
admiration for your character； but on the subject of house
property； I cannot allow the interference of my feelings。