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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from An Historical Mystery by Honore de Balzac: "Sire," she said, looking at him with as firm an eye, "I am
Mademoiselle de Cinq-Cygne."
"Well?" he replied, in an angry voice, thinking her look braved him.
"Do you not understand? I am the Comtesse de Cinq-Cygne, come to ask
mercy," she said, falling on her knees and holding out to him the
petition drawn up by Talleyrand, endorsed by the Empress, by
Cambaceres and by Malin.
The Emperor raised her graciously, and said with a keen look: "Have
you come to your senses? Do you now understand what the French Empire
is and must be?"
"Ah! at this moment I understand only the Emperor," she said,
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