Page:The Adventures of David Simple (1904).djvu/313

 from it; and at last started up like one distracted, caught hold of his sword, and cried out, 'Thou fatal instrument of hellish jealousy, which hast made this dreadful havoc in Dumont's faithful breast, now end my torments and revenge my friend.' In saying this, he fell on his sword, whilst I was vainly running to prevent him. The blow missed his heart; but the effusion of blood was so great, that he instantly fainted, and I thought him dead. "In that dreadful moment a servant, who had lived with me from my infancy, from the noise and hurry which was in the house upon Dorimene's being carried by force into her apartment, and the sending for a surgeon, fearing what might have happened, was coming to seek me: she entered the room just as my brother fell on his sword, and saw me fall down by him. She then immediately called for help, and carried me senseless, and seemingly dead, from this scene of horror. I fell from one fainting fit to another for the whole night; and, in every short interval, resolved not to survive this double loss, as I then apprehended it, of my brother and Dumont at once. "Early in the morning Dorimene's woman came into my chamber, and begged me, in all the most persuasive terms she could think on, to come to see her mistress, who appeared in all the agonies of death, and incessantly called on my name. I was so weak I could hardly walk, and had such an indignation against the woman who had caused this terrible catastrophe, that I at first thought nothing should prevail on me ever to see her more; but at last, when I was told she seemed very eager to impart to me something of great importance, I suffered them to lead me into her apartment. She desired me to sit down but for a few moments, for that she had already revenged me on herself by swallowing the very poison she had before prepared for me. She then told me the whole story of her irresistible