Chapter LXIX: Husband and Wife

I checked my horse, and stricken to the soul, like one who had been guilty of a great crime, shrank to the rear of all my party; nor did I again approach her, till we had surmounted the ascent to Lutzelstein; till the coach had rumbled over the castle bridge, and halted in the inner court, where the loud and hearty voice of Lord Dundrennan in warm congratulation, recalled me to the task I had to perform.

'Blane,' said he, 'zounds! there are women in this huge tumbril. Whose better half have you abducted to-night?'

'Hush, for heaven's sake, hush! 'tis Louise of Lorraine.'

'The Duchess D'Alsace--where?'

Torches were brought, and the doors of the carriage were opened. There sprang out a little boy clad in a rich coat of white satin, laced with gold, his fair hair tied with a blue ribbon. His air was haughty, but evinced alarm; for the brave child kept his hand on his tiny dagger. Then followed an old priest, in whom I immediately recognised Father Colville of the Scottish College at Pontamoussin, keeper of St. Lucy's reliques at St. Michel. Hat in hand I stood by the steps to assist Marie Louise; but disdaining my proffered courtesy, she sprang lightly to the ground. A young lady, her attendant, respectfully followed, with a countenance as expressive of terror, as that of her mistress indicated sorrow and anger.

'Messieurs, to what place is this we have been brought?' she asked.

'Lutzelstein, a castle on the Vosges,' I replied.

'And you command here?' she asked upbraidingly, as she bent her beautiful eyes upon me, with an expression which made my heart tremble.

'I do--but mademoiselle--'

'I am Madame la Duchesse d'Alsace!'

'Pardon me--alas! I had forgotten it.'

'Well, monsieur.'

'I wish to explain--'

'What?'

'This most unpleasant affair,' I urged.

'Is it thus, M. Blane, that you designate a brutal brawl devised by yourself, for my capture? Oh Arthur! Arthur! there was a time when I hoped for better deeds from you.'

'Marie Louise, I swear to you--'

'Monsieur!'

'Pardon me, and oh madame! do not pierce my heart with reproaches. Do not unheard condemn me to a life of sorrow and regret. I have acted to-night but in obedience to _this written order_, sent by the Marquis of Gordon from the trenches before Seltz, and delivered by Viscount Dundrennan, a gentleman of the Garde du Corps Ecossais.'

'Well--we are your prisoners--my husband and I,' said she, taking by the hand the child, who shrank close to her side as if for protection.

'So this is the Duke d'Alsace?' said I, regarding the poor urchin with a glance of a very mingled nature.

'_My_ husband, and as such to be respected,' said Marie Louise, blushing to her white temples, and by hauteur vainly endeavouring to veil the shame of this absurd avowal, which was made before so many persons.

'You are indeed prisoners,' said I, sadly; 'prisoners whom I dare not release.'

'Very well, M. Blane, enough of this! lead us to our apartments for to-night--farewell!'

'Adieu, madame,' said I, bowing low, and while my heart seemed crushed or withered up within me, I gazed after her figure as it disappeared into the tower, where Lieutenant Ruthven escorted her and the female attendant to well-secured apartments, and placed sentinels at the doors and in the passages. The other prisoners, who proved to be Duke Charles's masters of the horse and household, with a councillor of the chamber of accounts at Nanci, and two valets, we secured elsewhere in one chamber, where, as they bear no other part in this narrative, we shall politely bid them adieu.

'Come, Blane,' said Dundrennan, proffering to me a huge cup of wine; 'be a man for the honour of Galloway. Drain off this--then away to bed and sleep. To-morrow you will awake more placid and composed.'

'Sleep!' I reiterated; 'she has a husband, Dundrennan.'

'Bah!' replied the wild young Lord; 'in your place, I would soon teach her to forget that trifling circumstance.'

'For shame, my Lord.'

'Well, this capture of to-night is most unpleasantly important.'

'How, Viscount?'

'I must, in obedience to orders, ride back to Seltz, that the Duc de Lavalette may be duly informed of it.'

'True--I had forgotten,' said I, biting my nether lip with anger, that any one, save myself, presumed to have an interest in the person of Marie Louise; but in about an hour after this, with four of Brissac's dragoons as an escort, Dundrennan left me for the French camp to report this seizure, which was deemed so important, that he was next day despatched to Paris for the special orders of King Louis concerning the disposal of my prisoners.

Meanwhile let me relate how it fared with us at the solitary castle of Lutzelstein.