I am capable of everything. Yes, I did wish to
deceive you. Yes, some days before I received my mortal wound I did wish to
find a young girl, whom I would have presented to you in the place of our
child whom you regret so bitterly."
"Enough--oh! enough, madame."
"After this confession you will believe me, perhaps; or, rather, you will
be forced to give credence to the proofs."
"To the proofs?"
"Yes, Rudolph; I repeat it, I have wished to deceive you, to substitute an
obscure girl in the place of her we mourn; but Heaven willed that, at the
moment when I was about to carry the project into execution, I should be
stricken down."
"You! at this moment!"
"Heaven has also willed that they should propose to me to play this
part--do you know whom? our daughter."
"Are you delirious? In the name of heaven---"
"I am not delirious, Rudolph. In this casket, among some papers and a
portrait, which will prove to you the truth of what I say, you will find a
paper stained with my blood."
"With your blood?"
"The woman who informed me that our child was still living dictated to me
this revelation--then I was stabbed by a poniard."
"And who was she? how did she know?"
"It was to her our child was delivered--quite an infant--after having
falsely reported her death."
"But this woman--her name? can she be believed? where did you become
acquainted with her?"
"I tell you, Rudolph, that all this is fate--providential.
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