'They are the most dangerous of
all.' He took a bundle of notes from his table and glanced them over.
'I presume that he is fortunate enough to be your lover, mademoiselle?'
Sibylle's pale face flushed, and she looked down before the Emperor's
keen sardonic glance.
'I have his examination here. He does not come well out of it. I
confess that from what I see of the young man's character I should not
say that he is worthy of your love.'
'I implore you to spare him, Sire.'
'What you ask is impossible, mademoiselle. I have been conspired
against from two sides--by the Bourbons and by the Jacobins. Hitherto I
have been too long-suffering, and they have been encouraged by my
patience. Since Cadoudal and the Due d'Enghien died the Bourbons have
been quiet. Now I must teach the same lesson to these others.'
I was astonished and am still astonished at the passion with which my
brave and pure cousin loved this cowardly and low-minded man, though it
is but in accordance with that strange law which draws the extremes of
nature together. As she heard the Emperor's stern reply the last sign
of colour faded from her pale face, and her eyes were dimmed with
despairing tears, which gleamed upon her white cheeks like dew upon the
petals of a lily.
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