_Long._ Traitor! infamous, unblushing traitor! Florian has arrived, arrived in safety: every way I have been betrayed; and now to screen your perfidy from punishment, you dare insult my ear with forgeries too monstrous and too gross for patience. _Bert._ Hear me, my lord! as I have life, as I have a soul, so have I spoken truly, the grave yawned asunder to forbid the blow, it was no vision of my cowardice--I saw--distinctly saw-it was _Eugenia_! as in her days of nature, entire and undecayed, the spectre-form stood terribly before me, it moved--it gazed--it frowned me into madness! _Long._ Villain! still would you deceive me! _Bert._ Ah, my lord, you would deceive yourself. I swear it was Eugenia, her shadowy arms were stretched between the lifted dagger and the prostrate youth; while her swift dark eye flashed on mine with brightness insupportable: such was her dreadful look, when, with her bleeding infant clinging to her breast, she sprang into the flames, and-- _Long._ Hush! [_the doors of an inner chamber open, and De Valmont appears conversing with Florian and Geraldine._] We are interrupted; quick! change those ruffled features into smiles, quick! mark me, wretch! _De Val._ (_coming forward_) My boy, your preservation was indeed a miracle. Ascribe not to the vague results of chance, that which belongs to Providence alone. Ah, here is my kinsman--one, whose anxious fears on your account, have held him a sleepless watcher through the night. _Long._ (_with affected fervency_) Florian! a thousand welcomes: the return of friends at all times is a joy, but when they come through dangers to our arms, there's transport in the meeting. Tell me--what strange tale is this I catch imperfectly from every lip? can it be possible you were assailed last night by ruffians in the wood? _Flor._ Yes, my dear baron, yes! but morning has chased away night, and I am out of the wood now; therefore let us banish gloomy retrospections, and yield the present hour to bliss without alloy. _De Val._ Not so: in this your friends must claim an interest dearer than your own: these men of blood shall be pursued to justice, if Alsace yet hold them. _Long._ Be that my task. (_to Flor._) Should you recognize their persons? _Flo._ Positively no--their disguises were impenetrable. _Ger._ But their voices, Florian, you heard them speak? _Flo._ True, sweet Geraldine, a few broken sentences; but their accents were not framed like thine, to touch the ear but once, yet vibrate on the memory forever. _Long._ Indulge my curiosity, how were you preserved?