Page:Victor Hugo's Works (Guernsey Edition) v14.djvu/114

92

Too late! too late!

He 's dead!

Before all men,

I'll answer this!

Before Heaven's judgment seat,

How shall I answer this? [ has brought forward. takes her in his arms. Dead—dead—my bird!

My lily flower! Gone to thy last account,

All sinless as thou wert. My fool's revenge

Ends but in this! Cold! cold!

[Putting his hand on her heart.] Ha! Yes! a beat!

A breath! A full deep breath!

She lives! she lives!

Say, some of you, she drank not, and I'll bless

The man that says so,—yea, so pray for him

As saints ne'er prayed! She breathes still! Hark! hark!

Father!