d
the difficulties of life for him; he drew his sword in all cases, as the
only remedy that he knew for the gordian knots of life. Under present
circumstances, when the convulsion of his ideas had reached its height,
the nature of the man came uppermost. Twice detected in flagrant
falsehood by the being he abhorred, the son he cursed, cursing him more
than ever in this supreme moment when that son's despised, and to him
most despicable, weakness triumphed over his own omnipotence, infallible
till then, the father and the man ceased to exist, the tiger issued from
its lair. Casting at the angels before him--the sweetest pair that ever
set their feet on earth--a murderous look of hatred,--

"Die, then, both of you!" he cried. "You, vile abortion, the proof of
my shame--and you," he said to Gabrielle, "miserable strumpet with the
viper tongue, who has poisoned my house."

These words struck home to the hearts of the two children the terror
that already surcharged them. At the moment when Etienne saw the
huge hand of his father raising a weapon upon Gabrielle he died, and
Gabrielle fell dead in striving to retain him.

The old man left them, and closed the door violently, saying to
Mademoiselle de Grandlieu:--

"I will marry you myself!"

"You are young and gallant enough to have a fine new lineage," whispered
the countess in the ear of the old man, who had served under seven kings
of France.

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