Page:The Adventures of David Simple (1904).djvu/311

 blood, her horror and despair took from her all solicitude for her own safety, and she immediately cried out, 'Oh! Stainville! what have you done? you have murdered the faithfullest friend that ever man was blessed with. Dumont is innocent, and I am the only guilty person. I have persecuted him with my love; my furious threats of Isabelle's life have caused all the appearance of his neglecting her; but no temptation could make him once think of wronging his friend! If any remaining rage yet possesses you, point it at her who only deserves it; but if pity succeeds the fury in your breast, let that induce you to shorten my torments by ending my life, and let me not linger in the hell which I feel at this instant.' "The moment she had said enough to open my brother's eyes on Dumont's innocence, he turned all his thoughts on him, and let his wife talk on unheeded. He stood for a moment motionless, with his eyes fixed on Dumont's face, where he sufficiently saw a confirmation of all Dorimene had said. Then he threw himself on his knees at the Chevalier's bedside, and gave him such a look as would have pierced a heart of stone. It so totally subdued Dumont, who too visibly perceived his repentance, and easily conceived all those inward horrors which distracted his soul, that, with a look full of compassion only, he reached out his hand to him, and said, 'My friend, I die well pleased if you are convinced that even Dorimene's beauty could not tempt me to wrong your generous friendship. But I grow faint; indulge me in one last view of my Isabelle.'—Stainville started up at the word faint; flew to send for a surgeon; ordered the servants to force Dorimene, who was raving like a madwoman, to her chamber; then ran to me, and, trembling with horror, said, 'Come, Isabelle, view your lover at his last gasp, and behold the guilty hands which have executed the dreadful dictates of rage and jealousy!