At that moment a sweet voice might be heard caroling one of those simple national airs which are dear to all nations and all times. Marguerite had a soft, winning voice, well adapted to the song she was singing. The Count, as well as Dumiger, paused in his conversation; the color rose again to Dumiger's face as he thought how nearly he was on the point of sacrificing his faith, and loving the work of his own hands more than the admirable work of Nature which had been bestowed upon him, and, as he listened, he lowered his voice and said,-- "For her I would sacrifice even the clock!" "You shall," exclaimed the Count. "I shall!" said Dumiger, starting from his seat. "Now in what way do you mean, my Lord Count?" "You know," said the Count, "the value of the prize which is offered by the town. It is worth little in money. The honor is considered sufficient. Then you are to be given high place amongst the good citizens, a laurel crown, to ride a white horse, and sundry other trumperies." The Count looked at Dumiger while he applied the word trumperies to those results which the latter had so impatiently striven for,--for which he had been laboring night and day. These outward signs of the results of great ambition,--these to be called trumperies! Dumiger looked at the Count with astonishment. "And yet," said he, "it is for such trumperies men sacrifice their lives, sometimes their characters." The old Count colored slightly as he gave a glance at the riband and star which he wore. Men did sometimes say that the Grand Master had not obtained all his honors without sundry sacrifices of one kind and another. Dumiger had not intended any allusion to these rumors, and he was surprised at the Count's change of color, for which, at the moment, he was unable to assign a reason. "Well," said the Count hesitatingly, "as you say you prefer Marguerite's love even to your ambition, let us suppose, that in one moment you were able to attain certain wealth, to place her in a position worthy of her high qualities, to be at once on an equality with those of her fellow-citizens, who have hitherto--pardon me the word--treated her as an inferior; let us suppose that by some extraordinary powers all this could be immediately realized;--then let me ask you, would you sacrifice your clock?"