Felicien's mother having died at his
birth, his father took Holy Orders, and refused to see him for over
twenty years. Having ultimately come to live with his father at
Beaumont, Felicien met and fell in love with Angelique, the adopted
daughter of Hubert, the chasuble-maker. The Bishop having absolutely
refused to consent to the marriage, the Huberts endeavoured to separate
the lovers by persuading Angelique that Felicien no longer cared for
her. They were aided in this by a rumour that Felicien was to marry
Claire de Voincourt. A meeting between Angelique and Felicien cleared
away the mists, but by this time the girl had fallen into ill-health and
appeared to be dying. The Bishop, who had formerly been secretly moved
by an appeal made to him by Angelique, came to administer to her the
last rites of the Church. A semi-miraculous recovery followed, and,
the Bishop having consented, Felicien was married to Angelique in the
cathedral of Beaumont. The recovery had, however, been a mere spark of
an expiring fire, for as Felicien led his new-made wife to the cathedral
porch, she slipped from his arm, and in a few moments was dead.
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