Page:Marquis de Sade - Adelaide of Brunswick.djvu/36

 "Why are you on this throne without me?"

"Why did you come to get me to put me on the throne?"

"Please don't remind me of such a thing. It is tearing my heart."

"Oh, my friend, let me receive from you an example of courage. Am I not more unfortunate than you? There is nobody in your life who would prevent you from keeping my image before you. You know that I cannot say as much because when it is you that I would like to hold in my arms, it is your rival that I find."

"My rival!"

"No, of course not, I didn't use the word right. You have no rival. Could I share the heart which belongs to you entirely? My admissions are very guilty, I agree, but I forgive myself if they can calm you."

"They only inflame me more. Do you think they can make me forget my love when you admit that if some accident …"

"What are you daring to say, Thuringia? Do you think that I would let myself think such things? If my heart is to be worthy of yours, then it must be as pure as yours. We would vilify ourselves if the least criminal thought ever entered our minds. There is no doubt that being deprived of each other is cruel; but if we did anything to break the bonds which separate us, it would be much more painful."

'Well," said the marquis, "I see nothing else to do except to go away. The wars which are so frequent in our provinces offer to me the means of glory, and if they do make me forget the sentiments which nothing can extinguish, at least they will appease momentarily the sorrows which I feel."

"I forbid you to go away," said Adelaide.

"You want my unhappiness to be continually under your eyes."

"What other hand than mine can help it?"

"Grant, at least, that I see you sometimes in this same spot."

"You can count on the desire I have to see you. I will be as eager as you to find moments when it will be possible to soothe you and for us to calm each other."

At that moment Adelaide thought she saw a shadow run