He
wants to see her before his mother knows."
And Maurice had departed in hot haste.
As soon as they reached the Inn, Esperance jumped to the ground.
Jeanette, who had kept a constant watch, ran along ahead of her and
without a word showed her the door of the room where Count Albert lay
dying. The Doctor stopped her.
"Very gently," he said.
But Albert had felt the presence of his dearly loved. He raised
himself a little, holding out his great arms to the young girl.
"Come to me, my love, do not be afraid. I will never hold you again in
these arms that frighten you. Listen carefully. I have only a few
minutes to live! No one knows the real reason of my quarrel with the
Duke.... You may have thought that it was about you. I swear to you,"
he laid stress on the word, "I swear to you that it was nothing to do
with you!"
His glazing eyes cleared for an instant, illuminated by the beauty of
his falsehood.
"Marry the Duke, he is charming ... he ... he is loyal ... but do not
abandon my mother; she will have only you!"
Two red streams trickled from the corners of his mouth. Esperance on
her knees with her hands crossed on the bed, watched the blood run
down on the face that had grown paler than the pillow. Her tears
blinded her, and she shook as with an ague. Albert ceased breathing
for an instant. The Doctor, who was watching closely from the end of
the room, came near and gave him a dose of chlorate of calcium to stop
the hemorrhage; then at a sign from Albert, withdrew again.
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