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your property My lord has al deed of gift"
"And who is your lord?" asked Natalie "Tell me his name--tell me where
I may find him, that I may return hi Marianne "Let me clasp his
feet and implore his further protection for my poor helpless princess"
"My lord desires no thanks," proudly responded Ribas "He does good for
his own sake, and protects innocence because that is the duty of every
knight and nobleman"
"At least tell me his name, that I may pray for him," sobbed Marianne
"Yes, his na smile "Ah, how I shall
love that name!"
"His name is his own secret," said Ribas "The world, indeed, knows and
blesses hi him the bravest of the brave But it is his command
that you shall never be informents--he wishes only to secure your peace and happiness,
and thus redeem the soleuard and preserve you as a father, and to watch over you
as your tutelar genius!"
"Thanks, thanks, my God!" cried Marianne, with her arms raised toward
heaven "Thou sendest us help in our need, Thou hast
innocence, and sendest her a saviour in her greatest distress!"