"And who was your mother? Will you, tell me something about her?"
continued the prince, with increasing emotion.
"Her name was Cornelia, and she was an actress, belonging to the same
troupe that I am a member of now."
"Cornelia! then there is no possible doubt about it," murmured the
prince to himself, in great agitation. "Yes, it is certainly she whom I
have been seeking all these years--and now to find her thus!"
Then, controlling his emotion, he resumed his usual calm, majestic
demeanour, and turning back to Isabelle, said to her, "Permit me to keep
this ring for the present; I will soon give it back to you."
"I am content to leave it in your lordship's hands," the young actress
replied, in whose mind the memory of a face, that she had seen long
years ago bending over her cradle, was growing clearer and more distinct
every moment.
"Gentlemen," said the prince, turning to de Sigognac and his companions,
"under any other circumstances I might find your presence here, in my
chateau, with arms in your hands, unwarranted, but I am aware of the
necessity that drove you to forcibly invade this mansion, hitherto
sacred from such scenes as this--I know that violence must be met with
violence, and justifies it; therefore I shall take no further notice of
what has happened here to-night, and you need have no fears of any evil
consequences to yourselves because of your share in it.
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