Page:A courier of fortune (1904).djvu/125

Rh But Denys stopped her and spoke again, moving a step toward Gabrielle.

"He would marry you but to betray you to the Duke. 'Tis my last word. He says it here." Holding the letter in his now trembling fingers he made a great effort to reach Gabrielle with it, his staring eyes fixed earnestly and imploringly upon her. But his fever-racked strength was gone. "For God's sake be warned," he mumbled half-incoherently. It was his last effort. As the words dropped from his lips, he fell prone to the ground, the letter fluttering from his nerveless fingers to Gabrielle's feet.

Lucette with a cry knelt beside him.

Gabrielle had shrunk from his approach, but now stood gazing down on him, pity, pain and distress in her eyes. And Gerard stooped and felt his heart.

"He has but fainted," he said, looking up. "Let him be carried back to the bed he should never have left. He is a noble faithful fellow and has freely risked his life for what he deems the truth."

"Good, Gerard! Splendidly played. Did you mark that, my lord?" whispered de Proballe, intensely relieved at Denys' collapse. "What an actor the villain is, Duke? Said I not he was but acting with Gabrielle? You could swear that tone of his was a note of honourable innocence.

But the Duke made no reply. He was staring with pent gloomy brows at the scene.

"You bear him no grudge for this, Gerard?" said Gabrielle with a smile of confidence.

"Should I feel enmity to one whose only motive was desire to serve you and who has drawn this further proof of your trust in me? He did and said no more than he deemed both right and true. I honour him for his courage."

"Then I will tear the letter that appears to have