My new wishes in the matter proved futile; for one morning I was awakened at daybreak, by my chamber-door being noisily opened, and the tall form of Dundrennan, in the cuirass and helmet of the Garde du Corps Ecossais, stood before me. The words of welcome I would have spoken, died away on my lips, unuttered; for I knew that his arrival announced an indefinite separation from Marie Louise. 'What,' said he, 'still a-bed, as if you were in Paris!' 'I have so little to care for here, at Lutzelstein.' 'How, so little say you, when your fair friend--a veritable princess--is here, and a widow too!' I shrugged my shoulders. 'How French you have become,' said the jovial Viscount; 'but say, has not your suit prospered since the drowning of her juvenile spouse?' 'Hush!' said I; 'do not speak thus, for heaven's sake!' 'Devil take me, if I understand thee, Arthur Blane!' grumbled the Viscount, biting his dark moustache; 'but rouse thee, man, truss thy points, and let us to breakfast. I have had a long ride overnight from Seltz, which we captured at our swords' point three days ago. Old Patrick Gordon lost an ear by a pistol-shot, in the assault; but the cuirassiers expect you anon; for it seems that I am to be your successor, for a little time, in this detestable place. Ouf! But Madame la Duchesse d'Alsace--by Jove! it _will_ be awkward for me to have such a charming prisoner in my care--one who is another's lady love, too!' 'Dundrennan, your gabble tortures me,' said I, springing from bed, and proceeding hurriedly to dress. 'I had a narrow escape in the assault, for Ramsay's Scots blew up the powder-magazine--a pleasant little piece of excitement, which cost twenty of them their lives. But how have you wearied of your captaincie?' 'Because I am weary of my life.' 'With a prisoner so fair in ward--a widow, a virgin widow too--lovely in her weeds and tears!' 'Dundrennan, I will kill you!' 'No, you will not; but you shall listen to me and to reason.' 'Reason from you, Viscount?' 'Yes,' said he, becoming grave; 'is your passion real?' 'Alas, too real!' 'Then conquer it, if it cannot prosper.' 'Folly, Viscount--a real passion cannot be conquered; a fanciful one can alone be stifled.' 'This love affair has been a misfortune to you both, Arthur.' 'True, Viscount; but we cannot control our hearts.' 'We--then the lady fully responds?' 'Oh, yes--as much as lover could desire.' 'You are riddles! She must be won by a coup-de-main, or she will soon be taken from you, and then you will be compelled to forget her.' 'Impossible!' said I, buckling my sword-belt over my pourpoint. 'So you think; but nothing is impossible to time. Learn to love her at a distance; her image will then fade gradually, while another may soon supplant it; for the human heart cannot remain long vacant.' I shook my head sorrowfully. 'Well--I have but one other advice to offer.' 'And that is--'