Page:Ten Years Later.djvu/78

68 "Yes; only the gentleman is speaking to a madman. Get cured, my lord, and he will hold quite another language to you."

"But, Monsieur de Bragelonne," murmured the duke, in a voice half-choked, and putting his hand to his neck, "do you not see I am dying?"

"If your death were to take place at this moment, my lord," replied Eaoul, with unruffled composure, "I should indeed regard it as a great happiness, for this circumstance would prevent all kinds of evil remarks; not alone about yourself, but also about those illustrious persons whom your devotion is compromising in so absurd a manner."

"You are right, you are right," said the young man, almost beside himself. "Yes, yes; better to die than to suSer as I do at this moment."

And he grasped a beautiful dagger, the handle of which was inlaid with precious stones, and which he half drew from his breast.

Raoul thrust his hand aside.

"Be careful what you do," he said; "if you do not kill yourself, you commit a ridiculous action; and if you were to kill yourself, you sprinkle blood upon the nuptial robe of the Princess of England."

Buckingham remained a minute gasping for breath; during this interval his lips quivered, his fingers worked convulsively; and his eyes wandered as though in delirium. Then suddenly he said:

"Monsieur d-e Bragelonne, I know nowhere a nobler mind than yours; you are, indeed, a worthy son of the most perfect gentleman that ever lived. Keep your tents."

And he threw his arms round Raoul's neck. All who were present, astounded at this conduct, which was such as they could hardly have expected considering the violence of the one adversary and the determination of the other, began immediately to clap their hands, and a thousand cheers and joyful shouts arose from all sides. De Guiche, in his turn, embraced Buckingham, somewhat against his inclination; but, at all events, he did embrace him. This was the signal for French and English to do the same; and they who, until that moment, had looked at each other with restless uncertainty, fraternized on the spot. In the mean- time, the procession of the princess arrived, and had it not been for Bragelonne, two armies would have been engaged together in conflict, and blood have been shed upon the flowers with which the ground was covered. At the appear-