“Here, my mother, here,” said Paul, “take these commissions: the one for Emanuel, and the other for the husband of Marguerite. Let the happiness of your children be conferred by yourself. Believe me, mother, you have bestowed more on me than I on them.” The marchioness retired to shut herself up in her oratory. Paul left the castle, and proceeded toward the hut of the fisherman. CHAPTER XIX.--THE FAREWELL. Hark! she has bless’d her son--I bid ye witness, Ye listening heavens--thou circumambient air; The ocean sighs it back--and with the murmur Bustle the happy leaves. All nature breathes Aloud---aloft--to the Great Parent’s ear, The blessing of the mother on her child. ON approaching the fisherman’s hut, the place appointed with Lectoure, Paul perceived Lusignan and Walter, who were waiting for him. Precisely at the hour agreed, Lectoure appeared on horseback; he had been obliged to find his way as he best could, for he had no guide, and his own servant was as much a stranger as himself in that part of the country. On seeing him at a distance the young men came out of the hut. The baron instantly put his horse into a gallop, to hasten to them. When within a few paces of them he alighted from his horse, and threw the rein to his servant. “I trust you will pardon me, gentlemen,” said he, “that I should have approached you thus alone, like a forsaken orphan; but the hour selected by that gentleman,” he added, raising his hat to Paul, who returned the salutation, “was precisely that fixed upon for the funeral obsequies of the marquis; I have therefore left Emanuel to fulfil the duties of a son, and have come here without a second, trusting that I had to deal with an adversary generous enough to procure some friend of his own to aid me in this dilemma.” “We are entirely at your service, baron,” replied Paul; “here are two friends of mine. Select which you please, and he who shall be honored by your choice, will instantly become yours.” “I have no preference, I swear to you,” said Lectoure; “please to designate which of these two gentlemen you may desire should reader me this service.” “Walter,” said Paul, “be so good as to officiate as second to the baron.” The lieutenant assented; the two adversaries again bowed to each other. “And now, sir,” continued Paul, “permit me, before our respective seconds, to address a few words to you, not of apology, but explanation.” “At your own pleasure, sir, replied Lectoure.