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Cooper, James Fenimore, 1789-1851

"The Headsman The Abbaye des Vignerons"


On the part of those who, on this occasion, were the representatives of
that high attribute of the Deity which among men is termed justice, it was
sufficiently apparent that they understood its exercise with certain
reservations that might be made at pleasure in favor of their own views;
and, on the part of Maso, there was no attempt to conceal the suspicions
he entertained to the last, that he might be a sufferer by lessening in
any degree the strength of the defences by which he was at present
shielded, as the son, real or fancied, of a person so powerful as the
Prince of Genoa.
As usually happens when there is a mutual wish to avoid extremities, and
when conflicting interests are managed with equal address, the
negotiation terminated in a compromise. As the result will be shown in
the regular course of the narrative, the reader is referred to the closing
chapter for the explanation.


Chapter XXXI.

"Speak, oh, speak!
And take me from the rack."
Young.

It will be remembered that three days were passed in the convent in that
interval which occurred between the arrival of the travellers and those of
the chatelain and the bailiff.


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