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the apartment of the young girls。
〃Remain！〃 said the marshal； so imperiously that the soldier； accustomed
to obedience； hung his head； and stood still。
〃What would you do？〃 resumed the marshal。 〃Tell my children； that I
think they do not love me？ induce them to affect a tenderness they do not
feelwhen it is not their fault； but mine？〃
〃Oh； general！〃 said Dagobert； in a tone of despair； 〃I no longer feel
anger； in hearing you speak thus of your children。 It is such grief；
that it breaks my heart！〃
Touched by the expression of the soldier's countenance； the marshal
continued； less abruptly： 〃Come； I may be wrong； and yet I ask you；
without bitterness or jealousy； are not my children more confiding； more
familiar； with you than with me？〃
〃God bless me； general！〃 cried Dagobert； 〃if you come to that； they are
more familiar with Spoil…sport than with either of us。 You are their
father； and； however kind a father may be； he must always command some
respect。 Familiar with me！ I should think so。 A fine story！ What the
devil should they respect in me； who； except that I am six feet high； and
wear a moustache； might pass for the old woman that nursed them？and
then I must say； that； even before the death of your worthy father； you
were sad and full of thought； the children have remarked that； and what
you take for coldness on their part； is； I am sure； anxiety for you。
Come； general； you are not just。 You complain； because they love you too
much。〃
〃I complain； because I suffer；〃 said the marshal； in an agony of
excitement。 〃I alone know my sufferings。〃
〃They must indeed be grievous； general；〃 said Dagobert； carried further
than he would otherwise have gone by his attachment for the orphans；
〃since those who love you feel them so cruelly。〃
〃What； sir！ more reproaches？〃
〃Yes； general； reproaches；〃 cried Dagobert。 〃Your children have the
right to complain of you； since you accuse them so unjustly。〃
〃Sir；〃 said the marshal； scarcely able to contain himself； ‘this is
enoughthis is too much！〃
〃Oh； yes！ it is enough；〃 replied Dagobert； with rising emotion。 〃Why
defend unfortunate children； who can only love and submit？ Why defend
them against your unhappy blindness？〃
The marshal started with anger and impatience； but then replied； with a
forced calmness： 〃I needs must remember all that I owe youand I will
not forget it； say what you will。〃
〃But； general；〃 cried Dagobert； 〃why will you not let me fetch your
children？〃
〃Do you not see that this scene is killing me？〃 cried the exasperated
marshal。 〃Do you not understand； that I will not have my children
witness what I suffer？ A father's grief has its dignity； sir； and you
ought to feel for and respect it。〃
〃Respect it？ nonot when it is founded on injustice！〃
〃Enough； sirenough！〃
〃And not content with tormenting yourself；〃 cried Dagobert； unable any
longer to control his feelings； 〃do you know what you will do？ You will
make your children die of sorrow。 Was it for this； that I brought them
to you from the depths of Siberia？〃
〃More reproaches！〃
〃Yes； for the worst ingratitude towards me； is to make your children
unhappy。〃
〃Leave the room； sir！〃 cried the marshal； quite beside himself； and so
terrible with rage and grief； that Dagobert； regretting that he had gone
so far； resumed： 〃I was wrong； general。 I have perhaps been wanting in
respect to youforgive mebut〃
〃I forgive youonly leave me！〃 said the marshal； hardly restraining
himself。
〃One word； general〃
〃I entreat you to leave meI ask it as a serviceis that enough？〃 said
the marshal； with renewed efforts to control the violence of his
emotions。
A deadly paleness succeeded to the high color which during this painful
scene had inflamed the cheeks of the marshal。 Alarmed at this symptom；
Dagobert redoubled his entreaties。 〃I implore you； general；〃 said he； in
an agitated mice； 〃to permit me for one moment〃
〃Since you will have it so； sir； I must be the one to leave；〃 said the
marshal； making a step towards the door。
These words were said in such a manner； that Dagobert could no longer
resist。 He hung his head in despair； looked for a moment in silent
supplication at the marshal； and then； as the latter seemed yielding to a
new movement of rage； the soldier slowly quitted the room。
A few minutes had scarcely elapsed since the departure of Dagobert； when
the marshal； who； after a long and gloomy silence； had repeatedly drawn
near the door of his daughters' apartment with a mixture of hesitation
and anguish； suddenly made a violent effort； wiped the cold sweat from
his brow； and entered the chamber in which Rose and Blanche had taken
refuge。
CHAPTER XLIX。
THE TEST。
Dagobert was right in defending his children； as he paternally called
Rose and Blanche； and yet the apprehensions of the marshal with regard to
the coldness of his daughters； were unfortunately justified by
appearances。 As he had told his father； unable to explain the sad； and
almost trembling embarrassment； which his daughters felt in his presence；
he sought in vain for the cause of what he termed their indifference。
Now reproaching himself bitterly for not concealing from them his grief
at the death of their mother； he feared he might have given them to
understand that they would be unable to console him； now supposing that
he had not shown himself sufficiently tender； and that had chilled them
with his military sternness； and now repeating with bitter regret； that；
having always lived away from them； he must be always a stranger to them。
In a word； the most unlikely suppositions presented themselves by turns
to his mind； and whenever such seeds of doubt； suspicion； or fear； are
blended with a warm affection； they will sooner or later develop
themselves with fatal effect。 Yet； notwithstanding this fancied
coldness； from which he suffered so much； the affection of the marshal
for his daughters was so true and deep； that the thought of again
quitting them caused the hesitations which were the torment of his life；
and provoked an incessant struggle between his paternal love and the duty
he held most sacred。
The injurious calumnies； which had been so skillfully propagated； that
men of honor； like his old brothers in arms； were found to attach some
credit to them； had been spread with frightful pertinacity by the friends
of the Princess de Saint…Dizier。 We shall describe hereafter the meaning
and object of these odious reports； which； joined with so many other
fatal injuries； had filled up the measure of the marshal's indignation。
Inflamed with anger； excited almost to madness by this incessant
〃stabbing with pins〃 （as he had himself called it）； and offended at some
of Dagobert's words； he had spoken harshly to him。 But； after the
soldier's departure； when left to reflect in silence； the marshal
remembered the warm and earnest expressions of the defender of his
children； and doubt crossed his mind； as to the reality of the coldness
of which he accused them。 Therefore； having taken a terrible resolution
in case a new trial should confirm his desponding doubts； he entered； as
we before said； hi