A faint smile curled Chavigni's lip, which was uncommonly pale. "You will hear on my arrival," said he; "for I see you are ignorant of what has lately taken place, though the couriers must have arrived in all the towns three days ago.--But let us have our wounded brought along, and we will proceed to the Chateau.--It cannot be far distant." The preparations were soon made--the Chateau was soon reached--and Pauline de Beaumont was soon once more clasped in the arms of her lover.--But let all that pass. "Madame," said Chavigni, advancing to the Marchioness, "you doubtless wonder as much as Monsieur de Blenau, what can have brought me hither. But as I came to Montpellier, I had the King's commands to inform you, that the fine which was imposed upon your estates is remitted in full. And to you, Monsieur de Blenau, I have to announce, that your banishment is at an end, for his Majesty has given permission to all exiles to return to France, with a very few exceptions, amongst which you are not included.--I need not tell you from these circumstances, that--the Cardinal de Richelieu is dead!" "Good God!" exclaimed De Blenau, "so soon!" "Even so!" replied Chavigni. "Monsieur de Blenau, doubtless you are happy--for he was your enemy.--But he was to me a friend--he was nearly a father, and I mourn for him." "May he rest in peace!" said De Blenau. "He was a great man. May he rest in peace!" * * * * * Little more remains to be said; for this long history draws towards its close. The sorrows, the dangers, and the difficulties, which had so long surrounded De Blenau and Pauline, had now passed away, like the storms of a summer day, that overcloud the morning, but leave the evening calm and fair. They were united--in the beautiful valleys of Languedoc, and in the fair scenes where they had first met, they continued to live on in happiness and love, till the hand of time led them gently to the grave. That generation and its events have passed away; but there still remains one record of the hero of this tale: for in a little village church, between Argentière and Viviers, stands a fine marble tomb, with the figure of a knight sculptured in a recumbent posture. Underneath is engraven the date--one thousand six hundred and eighty-five, with the simple inscription, "_Ci git Claude, Comte de Blenau_." NOTES. "Après toutes les persécutions qui furent faites à plusieurs particuliers, le Roy suivant son naturel s'abandonna tout entier au pouvoir de son favori. Il se vit réduit à la vie la plus mélancolique et la plus misérable du monde, sans suite, sans cour, sans pouvoir, et, par conséquent, sans plaisir, et sans honneur. Ainsi se sont passés plusieurs années de sa vie à St. Germain, où il vivoit comme un particulier, et pendant que ses armées prenoient des villes et gagnoient des batailles, il s'amusait à prendre des oiseaux." _Memoires pour servir à l'Histoire d'Anne d'Autriche._