Fontanares
Tell me, pray, what was it troubled you?
Marie
You cannot imagine the persecutions I have endured since your arrival,
and especially since your quarrel with Madame Brancadori. What could I
do against the authority of my father? It is absolute. While I
remained at home, I doubted my power to help you; my heart was yours
in spite of everything, but my bodily presence--
Fontanares
And so you are another martyr!
Marie
By delaying the day of your triumph, you have made my position
intolerable. Alas! when I see you here, I perceive that you yourself
at the same time have been enduring incredible hardships. In order
that I might be with you for a moment, I have feigned an intention of
vowing myself to God; this evening I enter a convent.
Fontanares
A convent? Is that the way they would separate us? These tortures make
one curse the day of his birth. And you, Marie, you, who are the
mainspring and the glory of my discovery, the star that protected my
destiny, I have forced you to seek refuge in heaven! I cannot stand up
against that. (He weeps.)
Marie
But by promising to enter a convent, I obtained my father's permission
to come here. I wish in bidding you farewell to bring you hope. Here
are the savings of a young girl, of your sister, which I have kept
against the day when all would forsake you.
Fontanares
And what care I for glory, for fortune, for life itself, without you?
Marie
Accept the gift which is all that the woman who intends to be your
wife can and ought to offer.
Pages:
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93