"But can you think it a sin to save yourself?"
"It is always a sin to break vows, Monsieur. And now--to go with you, of all men--would be doubly a sin." She had lowered her voice, and she lowered her eyes, too, and drew slightly back from me.
"Then go with Hugues, Madame," said I, my own voice softened almost to a whisper. "Only let me follow at a little distance to see that you are safe. And when you are safe, finally and surely, I will go away, and we shall be as strangers."
Tears were in her eyes. But she answered:
"No, Monsieur; I should still be a truant wife--still a breaker of vows made to the Church and heaven."
"Then you would rather die, and have poor Mathilde die after you--Mathilde, who has no such scruples?"
"Mathilde must go away with you to-night. I command her--she will not disobey what may be the last orders I shall ever give her."
"Madame, I have never disobeyed yet, but I will disobey this time. I will not leave you." So said Mathilde, with quiet firmness.
"Ah, Mathilde, it is unkind, unfair! You will save yourself for Hugues's sake."
"I will save myself when you save yourself, Madame; not before."
The Countess sank upon the chair, and turning to the Virgin's image, said despairingly:
"Oh, Mother of heaven, save this child from her own fidelity!"
"It is not Mathilde alone that you doom," I now said, thinking it time to try my last means. "It is not only that you will darken the life of poor Hugues. There is another who will not leave Lavardin if you will not: one who will stay near, sharing your danger; and who, if you die, will seek his own death in avenging you."
"Oh, no, Monsieur!" she entreated. "I was so glad to learn you had escaped. Do not rob me of that consolation. Do not stay at Lavardin. Live!--live and be happy, for my sake. So brave--so tender--the world needs you; and you must not die for me--I forbid you!"
"You will find me as immovable as Mathilde," said I.
She looked from one to the other of us, and put forth her hands pleadingly; then broke down into weeping.
"Oh, will you make my duty the harder?" she said. "God knows I would gladly die to save you."
"It is not dying that will save us. The only way is to save yourself."
"Monsieur, you shall not drive me to sin by your temptations! Heaven will save you both in spite of yourselves. That will be my reward for putting this sin from me."