Allpassionsareunfettered，allwanttofightforfreedom，andagainstthechainswithwhichtheroyalgovernmenthasheldthembound。Anabysshasopenedbetweenthecrownandthenation，andtheStates-GeneralandtheThirdEstatewillnotcloseit，butonlywidenit。Itellyou，Margaret，darkdaysareapproaching；Iseethemcoming，andIcannot，foryoursake，withdrawfromthem，forI
amthesoldierofthequeen。Imustkeepguardbeforeherdoor，and，ifIcannotsaveher，Imustdieinherservice。Knowthis，Margaret，butknow，too，thatIloveyou。Letmerepeat，thatfromyoualoneallfortuneandhappinesscancometome，andthendoyoudecide。Willyou，afterallthatIhavetoldyou，stillacceptmyhand，whichIofferyouintenderestaffection？Willyoubemywife，knowingthatmylifebelongsnottoyoualone，butstillmoretoanother？Willyousharewithmethedangersofastormytime，ofaninevitablefuturewithme，anddevoteyourselfwith，metotheserviceofthequeen？Examineyourself，Margaret，beforeyouanswer。
Donotforgetyourgreatandnobleheart；considerthatitisavastsacrificetodevoteyourlifetoamanwhoispreparedeveryhourtogivehislifeforanotherwoman——toleavetheoneheloves，andtogotohisdeathindefenceofhisqueen。Proveyourheart；and，ifyoufindthatthesacrificeistoogreat，turnyourfaceawayfromme，andIwillquicklygomyway——willnotcomplain，willthinkthatithappensrightly，willloveyoumywholelifelong，andthankyouforthepleasanthourswhichyourlovehasgrantedtome。“
Hehaddroppedfromthedivanuponhisknee，andlookeduptoherwithsupplicatingandanxiouseyes。ButMargaretdidnotturnherfaceawayfromhim。Aheavenlysmileplayedoverherfeatures，hereyebeamedwithloveandemotion。Andasherglancesankdeepintotheheartofherlover，hecaughtthelookasifithadbeenarayofsunlight。Shelaidherarmsuponhisshoulders，andpressinghisheadtoherbosom，shebowedoverhimandkissedhisblack，curlyhair。
“Ah!Iloveyou，Louis，“shewhispered。“Iamreadytodevotemylifetoyou，toshareyourdangerswithyou，andinallconteststostandbyyourside。Soldierofthequeen，inmeyoushallalwayshaveacomrade。WithyouIwillfightforher，withyoudieforher，ifitmustbe。Wewillhaveacommonloveforher，wewillserveherincommon，andwithfidelityandlovethankherforthegoodwhichshehasdonetoyouandyourfather。“