FRAGMENT OF A JOURNAL. 421 



air had a ^ood effect on Madame de St. Foix's spirits. We all ad- 

 mired the beautiful prospect before us. On all sides was a wide ex- 

 tensive plain, with hills in the distance. We stood on an elevated 

 point, which was cut perpendicularly on one side. At the foot were 

 some old stones and bricks, with a few workmen's tools. 



" How beautiful is the plain below," said I to Leontine. " It would 

 almost make me forget all our misfortunes to live in this delightful 

 spot." " Ah !'' replied she, " would to Heaven I could efface all mine 

 from my memory, I would do any thing." She suddenly stopped. 

 We heard the report of a pistol, followed by a dreadful shriek. " At 

 last I am avenged !'' cried a voice I immediately knew. I turned 

 round. Etienne de St. Foix was lying prostrate on the ground, 

 bleeding profusely ; and a man, muffled in a cloak, with a pistol in 

 his hand, was standing over the dead body of my friend. All the 

 spectators were horror-struck. Before any of us had time to recover 

 our senses, the dark figure threw off his cloak and showed the fea- 

 tures of Henri de Bertou. Every one rushed suddenly towards 

 him ; but he escaped from our circle, and, running to where Leontine 

 had fallen senseless to the ground, took her up with a mighty grasp 

 and backed fearfully towards the edge of the rock. " If any one 

 advances," he cried, " I throw her headlong down the steep!" I 

 cannot go on — I cannot find words to describe the horror that seized 

 us all. We stopped suddenly. He took advantage of the moment 

 to implant a long kiss upon her drooping forehead, then laid her 

 down and leaped from the rock into the vale beneath. Speechless 

 with horror, we rushed towards Madame de St. Foix. What was our 

 agony to behold a knife buried in her breast! The villain had 

 stabbed her to the heart ! We descended from the height and came 

 to the spot where was lying amongst the stones and bricks the 

 mangled body of Henri de Bertou. He had just time to utter a few 

 imprecations. He expired in the most fearful convulsions ! 



****** 



***** 

 * * * * 



After having assisted at the funeral of my last friends, I began 

 to reflect upon my own now desolate state. The death of Etienne 

 and Leontine had destroyed every tie I had left upon earth. I felt 

 that I must create a new existence for myself. I could not decide 

 on any plans. Day after day, and week after week, I lingered on 

 in Paris ; and it was not till some months after the lamentable ca- 

 tastrophe I have just recorded that I began to grow more accus- 

 tomed to my solitude. My late absence from France had of course 

 broken again all the acquaintances I had formed there. I did 

 nothing for the following year. At last, I determined to come to 

 England and try a new existence. I was possessed of sufficient 

 riches. I wished for no more. I tried to interest myself in the po- 

 litics of the day, and I gradually become acquainted with the policy 

 of all the different courts of Europe. I ingratiated myself with the 

 party then reigning. I got gradually identified with my pursuit, 

 and, ere long, my whole soul became devoted to it. Four years had 

 now elapsed since I had left Paris. I could never bear to call to 



