There appeared throughout the party a kind of concentrated grief
and silent despair which struck us with terror. We remained
motionless in the same spot without any persons quitting their
fixed attitude to offer us a seat. After some minutes of a deep
silence, which I durst not interrupt any more than comte Jean,
whose accustomed hardihood seemed effectually checked, the
suffering girl raised herself in her bed, and in a hollow
voice exclaimed,
"Comtesse du Barry, what brings you here?"
The sound of her hoarse and grating voice made me start, spite of myself.
"My poor child," answered I, tenderly, "I come to see you at
your request."
"Yes, yes," replied she, bursting into a frightful fit of laughter,
"I wished to see you to thank you for my dishonour, and for the
perdition into which you have involved me."
"My daughter," said the priest, approaching her, "is this what
you promised me?"
"And what did I promise to God when I vowed to hold myself chaste
and spotless? Perjured wretch that I am, I have sold my honour
for paltry gold; wheedled by the deceitful flattery of that man
who stands before me, I joined his infamous companion in the
path of guilt and shame. But the just vengeance of heaven has
overtaken me, and I am rightly punished."
Whether this language was the result of a previously studied
lesson I know not, but it was ill-calculated to raise my
failing spirits.
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