"Are you quite sure of yourself?" said Clémence. "No imprudence."
"Oh! be tranquil. I know the danger there would be for her--I will not expose her to it. My good Murphy, I entreat you--go--go!"
"Reassure yourself, madame," answered the squire, who had attentively observed the prince; "she can come. My lord will restrain himself."
"Yes, my lord; I ask but for a moment--one is not made of iron," said the good man, wiping away the traces of his tears; "she must not see that I have been weeping."
"Excellent man!" replied Rudolph, cordially pressing his hand.
"I am ready. I did not wish to pass through the servants' lines all in tears, like a Magadalen. But what shall I say?"
"Yes, what shall he say?" demanded the prince from Clémence.
"That M. Ruldolph wishes to see her--nothing more, it seems to me."
"Undoubtedly. Say that M. Rudolph wishes to see her, nothing more. Come, go--go."
"It is certainly the very best thing that can be said to her," answered the squire. "I will merely say that M. Rudolph wishes to see her; that will not cause her to conjecture anything--to foresee anything: it is the most reasonable way, truly."
"Sir Walter," said Clémence, smiling, "you are afraid."
"It is true, my lady; in spite of my six-foot stature and my rough exterior, I am still under the influence of violent emotions."
"My friend, take care," said Rudolph; "wait a moment longer, if you are not sure of your self-possession."
"This time, my lord, I am victorious," said the baronet, after having passed over his eyes his Herculean hand. "Really, at my age, this weakness is perfectly ridiculous. Fear nothing now."
And Murphy left the apartment with a firm step and tranquillized air. A moment of silence ensued; then Clémence, blushing, remembered that she was in Rudolph's house, and alone with him. The prince approached her, and said, almost timidly, "If I choose this day--this moment--to make you a sincere avowal, it is because the solemnity of this day--this moment--will add still more to the gravity of the confession. Ever since I have known you I have loved you. So long as concealment of this love was necessary, I concealed it; now that you are free, and have restored me my daughter, will you be to her a mother?"