"'So it seems,' sneered M. d'Escombas, 'by your coming here to meet a young spark three days before your marriage.' "'Father, it is better to endure the poverty, the vows, the life-long self-abnegation of all in a convent, than an union without love to a man who is older even than thee.' "Her voice was most touching--her expression lovely; but the old barbarians heard her unmoved. "'Child, you know not what you say,' replied M. de Platel, in great wrath. 'I provide a rich marriage, a wealthy husband, who will prove a kind one, too; a splendid house here, close by the Luxembourg; a life of freedom and gaiety; and, _diable!_ what more would you have? unless it is this rascal of a student, who would be better inside La Force than here, creating mischief and dispeace.' "'Oh, why torture me thus?' she replied, faintly, while pressing her hands on her heart. "'Torture--_bon diable!_ she talks of torture, with a suitor here who has ever so many thousand livres per annum,' said M. du Platel, shrugging up his shoulders. "'_Mon père_,' she demanded, with her little nostrils quivering, and her blue eyes flashing fire; 'for how many thousand purses do the Circassians sell?' "'_Morbleu!_ she is always speaking about Circassians,' growled M. d'Escombas; 'what do we know of them, save that they are pagans who eat horseflesh on Friday, and never sign the cross or keep the month of Mary.' "'And yet they sell their daughters, M. d'Escombas, just like the subjects of the Most Christian king.' "'Child, this is treason and blasphemy--and close to the walls of the Luxembourg, too!' "''Tis truth and despair.' "'Summon a fiacre, M. d'Escombas--a thousand devils, 'tis time to end this!' exclaimed du Platel, grinding his teeth, and then they bore her away from me. "In three days after this sorrowful meeting I heard the bells of St. Germain de Prè ringing gaily for the marriage of Isabelle to the wealthy citizen d'Escombas, who was willing to take her without a portion--a circumstance that had quite sufficient influence with one so sordid and cruel as her father, without considering on the other hand the vast wealth of her suitor. "After this, I was long ill and tired of life, and believe that but for the unwearying friendship of Guillaume de Boisguiller I should have died--if indeed people ever die for love, which I don't think they do. "It was about this time that all Paris, and all France, too, rung with the terrible story of the conspiracy, the trial, and execution of Robert Francis Damien; and M. d'Escombas, on hearing that I was ill, affected to pity me, and begged of Boisguiller that he might be permitted to pay me a visit. Then I--urged I know not by what motive or impulse--consented. On hearing this, what think you my fortunate rival did?--for all his plans we discovered after--how, need not be related here.