MADAME'S STORY. 97 



that I was obliged to try and soothe her, for her 

 bosom heaved, and her colour came and went. 

 After a few minutes she continued, "Is it not bad 

 enough to be married to such a man, without be- 

 coming a stranger to society on his account ? I 

 will not long submit, and if he attempts to coerce me 

 I will kill him ! yes, I would in a moment I" she 

 repeated, as she saw me smile at her vehemence. 

 " But listen, I will tell you my story. So you 11 

 learn whether or not I have occasion to hate this 



man." 



' " I am from the same city and of the same 

 race as our General Beauregard. An Empress of 

 France was descended from similar lineage. My 

 father was wealthy, my mother has long been dead ; 

 but seven months have elapsed since I became a 

 bride. It was in this way. This man, my husband, 

 gambled with my father. The poor old gentleman 

 lost the residue of what once had been a handsome 

 fortune, for we have had to pay a heavy price for 

 the war. Thus my father found himself a beggar, 

 and committed forgery to raise funds for one final 

 effort to redeem himself. Again he played, and 

 again he lost; worse than all, he fell into this 

 villain's power. The price to be paid for his safety 

 was my hand. I made the sacrifice to save my 

 broken-hearted parent's honour. The grave has now 

 closed over him. I have no relations left to avenge 

 the insults I daily received, for they died in our 

 lost cause; the duty therefore devolves upon the 



H 



