There would be a little
glory in it then. But even then, the world would laugh at you.
For you would be waging war against a lonely woman, a paralytic
king, a prelate who is a man of peace. What resistance could
these three offer?
"But to gain your ends by treachery and deceit, to rob a man of
his brains and heart, laughing the while in your sleeve; to
break his life and make him curse all women, from Eve to you and
the mother who bore him! Ah, Madame, let me plead with you. Give
him his liberty. Let him go back and complete the task imposed
on him. Do not break his life, for life is more than a crown; do
not compel him to sully his honor, for honor is more than life.
"Your cause is just, I will admit, but do not tarnish it by such
detestable means. 'Tis true that a crown to me signifies nothing,
but life and honor are common to us both. With all his strength
and courage, my friend is helpless. All his life he has been
without the society of women. If he should love you--God help
him! His love would be without calculation, without reason,
blind and furious. Madame, do not destroy him."
Sometimes, in the passing, we are stopped by the sound of a
voice.
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