Page:Clermont - Roche (1798, volume 4).djvu/123

 'My son (said he at length), 'tis well that we took the precautions we did.'

"What has happened?" demanded I eagerly.

'To-night (resumed he), as I was returning to the monastery, I heard, from behind a low rock which lies at a little distance from the castle, a low murmur of voices. I paused and listened, for I thought I distinguished your name: I was not mistaken; in about a minute after I stopped, it was repeated. I then crept to the spot determined to run every risk rather than not try to discover any plot that might be forming against you. As I approached, I beheld two men, from whom a projection of the rock concealed me.

'To Italy (said one of them), you say he is gone.—'Tis so reported,' replied the other. 'Well, it shall be my business (again spoke the first), to discover what foundation there is for that report;—earth shall be searched for Lausane; for, whilst he lives, my wishes can never be accomplished.'