Page:The Adventures of David Simple (1904).djvu/272

 at thus meeting with the man my brother had given us so advantageous a character of. She politely said that nothing could be more welcome to her than the Marquis de Stainville's friend. We walked some time in the garden; but my brother, observing the Chevalier grow faint, proposed the going in; saying that as he was but just recovered of a fit of sickness, it would be advisable for him to be in the house. And, indeed, he looked so pale and thin, that it was rather wonderful how it was possible for him to bear being out of his bed, and that rest would be necessary for him. He was in so weak a state of health that we spent two or three days together before the Marquis would ask him any particulars; but as soon as he thought he had gained strength enough to enable him to relate all that had happened to him, from the time of their separation, the marquis eagerly desired Dumont not to let him remain in ignorance of whatever had befallen so dear a friend during that interval; which request both my sister and I earnestly joined in, and the Chevaher obligingly began as follows—

"'The deyday [sic], sir, after you left the academy, when I was in the height of my melancholy for your loss, to complete my affliction I received a letter from my mother, that my father was taken very ill, and desired me to hasten home, as I valued ever seeing him again. I did not delay a moment obeying his commands; but immediately took horse, and rode with full speed till I reached his villa; he was yet alive, but so near his end that it was with difficulty he uttered his words. The moment I entered his chamber, and he was told by his fond and afflicted wife that I was there to attend his commands, he raised himself up in his bed, and seemed to keep life in him by force, in order to give me his last blessing. He then desired to be left some few minutes with me alone; and as I approached his bedside, he took