Page:The Literary Magnet 1825 vol 4.djvu/183

 we shall depart from this place without delay. I shall now endeavour to give you a short account of the last dreadful event.

A little before the tournament, two ladies and myself were waiting for the Queen in the antechamber, when the King entered. He loaded me with compliments, and seized a favourable moment of again whispering his passion in my ear. How he came to misinterpret one of my answers, I know not, but, forgetful of the place where he was, he seized me in his arms, and detaching a knot of ribbon from my bosom, imprinted a kiss on my forehead. At this moment Mongomery entered; he coloured highly, but had self-possession enough to pass with a slight bow. The King, in this moment of excitement, called after him:—“Mongomery, the world says that you are in love with the fair Limeuil!”—“She is my betrothed,” answered he with affected coolness. “Well,” said the King, “in that case I owe you satisfaction, and let this knot of ribbon serve for my gauntlet.” With these words he attached it to his helmet. Alarmed at his manner, I whispered into Mongomery’s ear, “There is no resource, let us instantly fly hence!”—

In the midst of the tournament the King challenged Mongomery, and on passing me, he whispered: “You are the reward, fair Clara!” Before my agitation permitted a reply, he was near Mongomery. The latter refused repeatedly to enter the list. The Queen sent the Duke of Savoy, supplicating the King to desist; but he remained obstinate, and Mongomery was compelled to comply. At the first shock, the King’s lance passed close to Mongomery’s helmet, at the second, a part of the crest was carried away. I was in deadly fear, for it was evident that the King aimed at Mongomery’s head, who both times had kept his lance sunk. The King seemed offended at this, and muttered some words, which I could not hear. Upon this they rushed wildly against each other; Mongomery’s lance struck the King upon the chest with such violence, that it was shivered into splinters, and the King bloody and fainting, dropped from the saddle. A splinter of Mongomery’s lance had pierced his eye and entered his head. Of what happened after this, I was altogether unconscious: my senses swam, and when I returned to myself I was lying on a couch in my own apartment.

I have just received a suit of male attire from Mongomery, in order to facilitate our escape. The night is dark: when you receive this, your Clara will perhaps be already in your vicinity.

Madam—It is my painful duty to communicate to you the more minute circumstances of an event, which has already filled your maternal heart with inflexible grief.

You know from your daughter’s last letter how all things were arranged for her flight with Count Mongomery. In the dead of night we followed the page out of town without experiencing any molestation. The Lady Clara was disguised in male attire, and I had so muffled up my features as to escape recognition. Near the chapel, concealed behind a hedge, waited the carriage. The Count met us at the door; a priest was in readiness, and in a few minutes the ceremony was concluded. The young pair quitted the chapel full of the most brilliant hopes: little did they dream of the fate which awaited them. The Count