"Oh, heavens!" she murmured, "is not the sacrifice yet made?"
"No, no," exclaimed the king, "and it shall not be made, I swear."
Notwithstanding her weakness and utter despair, she rose from the ground, saying, "It must be made, however; it must be; so do not stay me in my purpose!"
"I leave you to sacrifice yourself! I! never, never!" exclaimed the king.
"Well," murmured D'Artagnan, "I may as well go now. As soon as they begin to speak, we may as well save their having any listeners." And he quitted the room, leaving the two lovers alone.
"Sire," continued La Valliere, "not another word, I implore you. Do not destroy the only future I can hope for--my salvation; do not destroy the glory and brightness of your own future for a mere caprice."
"Oh! sire, it is now only that I can clearly see into your heart."
"An inexplicable impulse, foolish and unreasonable in its nature, may momentarily appear to offer a sufficient excuse for your conduct; but there are duties imposed upon you which are incompatible with your regard for a poor girl such as I am. So forget me."
"You cannot love one whose peace of mind you hold so lightly, and whom you so cruelly abandoned last night to the bitterness of death."
"What can you mean? Explain yourself. Louise."
"What did you ask me yesterday morning? To love you. What did you promise me in return? Never to let midnight pass without offering me an opportunity of reconciliation whenever your anger might be aroused against me."
"Oh! forgive me, Louise, forgive me! I was almost mad from jealousy."
"Jealousy is an unworthy thought, sire. You may become jealous again, and will end by killing me. Be merciful, then, and leave me now to die."
"Another word, mademoiselle, in that strain, and you will see me expire at your feet."
"No, no, sire, I am better acquainted with my own demerits; and believe me, that to sacrifice yourself for one whom all despise would be needless."
"Give me the names of those you have cause to complain of."
"I have no complaints, sire, to prefer against any one--no one but myself to accuse. Farewell, sire; you are compromising yourself in speaking to me in such a manner."
"Oh! be careful, Louise, in what you say; for you are reducing me to the very depths of despair."