Page:Clermont - Roche (1798, volume 4).djvu/109

 Philippe! (I cried) is the life of my wife required as an expiation of my crime?'

"Her wretched father hung over her.—'She dies! (said he); childless and forlorn I am doomed to descend to the grave!'

"The monk was alone collected; he raised her from the ground, and chafed her hands and temples; in a few minutes she showed signs of returning life. At length she opened her eyes: I was the first object they fell upon. 'Unhappy man! (she sighed) how could you doubt me?'

"Thus humbly kneeling, let me implore forgiveness for doing so (said I). Oh! amply, amply shall you be avenged; I fly this instant to throw myself into the arms of offended justice; and, by an ignominious death, atone for my wrongs to you and Philippe."

'And destroy your wife and her unborn infant,' cried she.

"This was the first time I had heard there was a prospect of my becoming a father; an idea of the felicity which but a few days be-