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Rh tarry? we do what we can with short means, but a great calamity may annihilate us at once, and then all assistance from without will come too late, even now, a small one would be very acceptable. But already I forbode the future, they will let us languish and perish, and then lament that they did not lend us assistance sooner. It is ever thus, when one trusts to foreign aid."

"Therefore a sum could—in all cases"— observed the stranger.

"No," cried Roland with great vehemence; "Oh sir, do you think then that I anticipate a happy result? I will live and die in this struggle, end as it may. When I had the courage to take up the sword, I at the same time threw away the scabbard too. I have devoted myself to ruin. My name may be stained, the better part of mankind shall feel that I was not debased, that, notwithstanding all, I was a good subject."

"A good subject?" said the stranger