No one but a member of the family could have found his way through darkness so profound.

The towers and the roof formed one dark mass, which stood out in indistinct relief against the sky, hardly less dark; no light shone throughout the chateau, wherein all inmates seemed buried in slumber.

Cinq-Mars, enveloped in a large cloak, his face hidden under the broad brim of his hat, awaited in suspense a reply to his signal.
It came; a soft voice was heard from within: "Is that you, Monsieur Cinq-Mars ?" "Alas, who else should it be?
Who else would return like a criminal to his paternal house, without entering it, without bidding one more adieu to his mother?
Who else would return to complain of the present, without a hope for the future, but I ?" The gentle voice replied, but its tones were agitated, and evidently accompanied with tears: "Alas! Henri, of what do you complain?
Have I not already done more, far more than I ought?
It is not my fault, but my misfortune, that my father was a sovereign prince.

Can one choose one's birthplace or one's rank, and say for example, 'I will be a shepherdess ?' How unhappy is the lot of princesses! From the cradle, the sentiments of the heart are prohibited to them; and when they have advanced beyond childhood, they are ceded like a town, and must not even weep.

Since I have known you, what have I not done to bring my future life within the reach of happiness, in removing it far from a throne?
For two years I have struggled in vain, at once against my evil fortune, that separates me from you, and against you, who estrange me from the duty I owe to my family.