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But Heaven owes me its protection, since I did not get myself

into the difficulty. If I could only read in the countenance of

this man what passes in his soul! Look at him; now he looks like

Saint Anthony in the desert, and now like Holofernes himself."

In truth, the thoughts which agitated the Unknown passed over his

countenance, as in a stormy day the clouds fly over the face of

the sun, producing a succession of light and shade. His soul,

calmed by the gentle language of Frederick, felt elated at the

hope of mercy, pardon, and love; but then he sank again under the

weight of the terrible past. Agitated and uneasy, he retraced in

his memory those iniquities which were reparable, and considered

what remedies would be the safest and quickest. And this

unfortunate girl! how much she has suffered! how much he had

caused her to suffer! At this thought his impatience to deliver

her increased, and he made a sign to the coachman to hasten.