The six sisters of the valleys : an historical romance - University Library

206 THE SIX SISTEES OF THE VALLEYS.
the ground as a signal. Let us go and see
I shall not be afraid to go with you."
" Let us hasten there, Iolande. Oh
that I had been earlier ! I would have
rescued thee, Ardoine ;
yea, at the sacrifice
of my life ! Little did I think, when medi-
tating on thee by day and night, my cousin,
that thou wast in such danger. What is life
in comparison with the happiness of thosewe
love ? The thought of thy danger would
have nerved me to brave an army. Oh that
heaven may shield thee from the treacherous
myrmidons of the Church of Rome. Quick,
Iolande ;
let us hasten to the place."
Before long Raynald and Iolande reached
La Baudene. They searched about the
cypress tree, groping on the grave mound
with their hands in the darkness.
" Oh, Raynald, here is something which
feels like the fragments of a dress. And
here is the shred of a handkerchief, which
looks like Ardoine' s. There, hold it up to
the moonlight."
;