I turned
round in a fright and saw my brother standing on the threshold.
Oh! then I realized how guilty I had been! I felt that one or the
other of these two men--my lover or my brother--would not leave
that room alive.
"I tried to speak, to throw myself between them, but I found I
could neither speak nor move; it was as if I had been turned to
stone. Nor did they exchange a word at first. But at last my
brother drew two swords from their scabbards, and throwing one at
Arthur's feet, exclaimed: 'I have no wish to assassinate you.
Defend yourself, and save your life if you can!' And as Arthur
hesitated, and seemed to be trying to gain time instead of picking
up the weapon that was lying on the floor near him, my brother
struck him in the face with the flat side of his sword, and cried:
'Now will you fight, you coward! In an instant it was all over.
Arthur caught up the sword, and springing upon my brother,
disarmed him, and wounded him in the breast. I saw this. I saw
the blood spurt out upon my lover's hands. I saw my brother
stagger, beat the air wildly with his hands, and fall apparently
lifeless to the floor. Then I, too, lost consciousness and fell!"
Any one who had seen Madame d'Argeles as she stood there recoiling
in horror, with her features contracted, and her eyes dilated,
would have realized that by strength of will she had dispelled the
mists enshrouding the past, and distinctly beheld the scene she
was describing.
Pages:
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366