It often happens that the skies are never so calm or so serene1 as before a storm. The day was beautiful and still; one of those glorious days of February when, in spite of the tingling2 cold of the atmosphere, in spite of a winding-sheet of snow covering the earth, the sun smiles down upon mankind with a promise of spring.
Sir John came at noon to make his farewell visit to Amélie. He had, or thought he had, her promise, and that satisfied him. His impatience3 was altogether personal; but Amélie, in accepting his suit, even though she relegated4 the period of her marriage to the vaguest possible future, had crowned his hopes. He trusted to the First Consul5 and to Roland’s friendship for the rest. He therefore returned to Paris to do much of his courting with Madame de Montrevel, not being able to remain at Bourg and carry it on with Amélie.
A quarter of an hour after he had left the Château des Noires-Fontaines, Charlotte was also on her way to Bourg. At four o’clock she returned, bringing word that she had seen Sir John with her own eyes getting into his travelling carriage, and that he had taken the road to Mâcon.
Amélie could therefore feel perfectly6 at ease on that score. She breathed freer. She had tried to inspire Morgan with a peace of mind which she herself did not share. Since the day that Charlotte had brought back the news of Roland’s presence at Bourg, she had had a presentiment7, like that of Morgan himself, that they were approaching some terrible crisis. She knew all that had happened at the Chartreuse of Seillon. She foresaw the struggle between her brother and her lover, and, with her mind at rest about her brother, thanks to Morgan’s protection, she, knowing Roland’s character, trembled for her lover’s life.
Moreover, she had heard of the stoppage of the Chambéry mail-coach and the death of the colonel of Chasseurs. She also knew that her brother had escaped, but that he had disappeared since that time. She had received no letter from him herself. This disappearance8 and silence, to her who knew her brother so well, was even worse than open and declared war.
As for Morgan, she had not seen him since the scene we have narrated9, when she promised to send him arms wherever he might be, in case he were condemned10 to death. Amélie therefore awaited this interview, for which Morgan had asked, with as much impatience as he who had asked it. As soon as she thought Michel and his son were in bed, she lighted the four windows with the candles which were to summon Morgan to her.
Then, following her lover’s injunctions, she wrapped herself in a cashmere shawl, which Roland had brought her from the battlefield of the Pyramids, and which he had unwound from the head of a chieftain whom he had killed. Over this she flung a fur mantle12, left Charlotte behind to keep her informed in case of eventualities, which she trusted would not be forthcoming, opened the park gate, and hastened toward the river.
During the day she had gone to the Reissouse and back several times to trace a line of footsteps, among which the nocturnal ones would not be noticed. She now descended13, if not tranquilly14 at least boldly, the slope leading to the river. Once there, she looked about her for the boat beneath the willows15. A man was waiting in it—Morgan. With two strokes of the oar17 he reached a spot where Amélie could come to him. The young girl sprang down and he caught her in his arms.
The first thing the young girl noticed was the joyous18 radiance which illuminated19, if we may say so, the face of her lover.
“Oh!” she cried, “you have something nice to tell me.” “What makes you think so, dearest?” asked Morgan with his tenderest smile.
“There is something in your face, my darling Charles, something more than the mere11 happiness of seeing me.”
“You are right,” said Morgan, throwing the boat-chain around a willow16 and letting the oars20 float idly beside the boat. Then, taking Amélie in his arms, he said, “You were right, my Amélie. Oh! blind weak beings! It is at the very moment that happiness knocks at our door that we despair and doubt.”
“Oh, speak, speak!” said Amélie, “tell me what has happened.”
“Do you remember, my Amélie, how you answered me the last time we met, when I asked you to fly and spoke21 to you of your probable repugnance22 to the step?”
“Yes, I remember, Charles. I said that I was yours, and that, though I felt that repugnance, I would conquer it for your sake.”
“And I replied that I had engagements which would prevent my leaving the country; that I was bound to others, and they to me; that our duty was to one man to whom we owed absolute obedience—the future King of France, Louis XVIII.”
“Yes, you told me that.”
“Well, we are now released from our pledges, Amélie, not only by the King, but by our general, Georges Cadoudal.”
“Oh! my friend, then you will be as other men, only above all others.”
“I shall become a simple exile, Amélie. There is no hope of our being included in the Breton or Vendéan amnesty.”
“Why not?”
“We are not soldiers, my darling child. We are not even rebels. We are Companions of Jehu.”
Amélie sighed.
“We are bandits, brigands24, highwaymen,” said Morgan, dwelling25 on the words with evident intention.
“Hush!” said Amélie, laying her hand on her lover’s lips. “Hush! don’t let us speak of that. Tell me how it is that your king has released you, and your general also.”
“The First Consul wished to see Cadoudal. In the first place, he sent your brother to him with certain proposals. Cadoudal refused to come to terms; but, like ourselves, he received orders from Louis XVIII. to cease hostilities26. Coincident with that order came another message from the First Consul to Cadoudal. It was a safeguard for the Vendéan general, and an invitation to come to Paris; an overture27 from one power to another power. Cadoudal accepted, and is now on his way to Paris. If it is not peace, it is at least a truce28.”
“Oh, what joy, my Charles!”
“Don’t rejoice too much, my love.”
“Why not?”
“Do you know why they have issued this order to suspend hostilities?”
“No.”
“Because M. Fouch............