Page:The Rebellion in the Cevennes (Volume 1).djvu/128

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hideous hyena, rather than polute myself by being friendly towards you, for I should fear from a woman to be transformed into a dragon. And yet,—as they passed here, exchanging farewell glances, these children, who yet knew nothing of life, and were slaughtered at this tender age—it was indeed as if the last judgment with all its terrors burst upon my heart; behold, I could have kissed the dust from your and your executioner’s shoes in the public streets, only to have saved them! I flew to you, I found you not. Yes, most assuredly, all that was felt in those bitter moments by these wretched creaturesis now changed for them into peace and blessedness; yes, they have forgotten this life and you, if we do not madly pray to a tyrant instead of to the God of goodness."

"You are mad yourself, miserable woman," exclaimed the Marshal vehemently, "to forget yourself thus — by heaven! you should be shut up in a madhouse. But, by my honour, you shall never see me again."