"Something of this I did," said the advocate
coolly, "for I remembered some rather liberal
breathings of my own when I was young, -- and
youth will have its fling, -- nay, do not bite your lip,
but listen. Monsieur Montigny, thus far we have met
guile with guile. Just like two wily fencers, both of
us, waiting to spy our advantage, have still witheld
the lunge, until, at last, you, having grown desperate,
have rushed into the close. Yet, do not let your
anger overbear discretion. The heated iron hisses
when it is plunged into the trough, but shall we hiss
at each other like geese or serpents? Shall we quarrel,
deny the undeniable, try to undo the accomplished
deed? What is done is done, and not Omnipotence
itself, sir, could undo it."

"But we may hinder further evil," observed the
seigneur.

"Ay? Would you keep out the lightning by
high builded walls?" demanded the advocate, "for
you are as likely to accomplish that, as to keep
lovers from each other. No, let them alone, for they
are as climbing Titans towards their wishes' skies;
despising guardians' gates and fathers' fences, just as
much as did Briareus and his crew disdain its rugged
sides, and risk their necks up steep Olympus, when
they were making war on Jove. You cannot bar
them. The sun may be debarred from attics, and frost
may be kept out of cellars, but, Monsieur Montigny,
the mutually enamoured can never be permanently
parted. Sir, no more."

"Enamoured he, and she at length dishonoured,"
cried the seigneur, disregarding the injunction.

"Her honour is its own sufficient guardian," was
responded.

[[59]]

p058 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p059w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p060

v?