FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   >>  
tly, and was swallowed up in the safety of distance. He smiled at the mealman's hesitation, even while he said to himself: "This ends it--ends it!" He said it with no great sinking of heart, with no fear. It was the solution of all; it was his only way to honour. The soldiers were halted a little distance from the two; and the officer commanding, after a dull mechanical preamble, in the name of the Government, formally called upon Valmond and Lagroin to surrender themselves, or suffer the perils of resistance. "Never!" broke out Lagroin, and, drawing his sword, he shouted: "Vive Napoleon! The Old Guard never surrenders!" Then he made as if to rush forward on the troops. "Fire!" called the officer. Twenty rifles blazed out. Lagroin tottered back, and fell at the feet of his master. Raising himself, he clasped Valmond's knee, and, looking up, said gaspingly: "Adieu, sire! I love you; I die for you." His head fell at his Emperor's feet, though the hands still clutched the knee. Valmond stood over his body, one leg on either side, and drew a pistol. "Surrender, monsieur," said the officer, "or we fire!" "Never! A Napoleon knows how to die!" was the reply, and he raised his pistol at the officer. "Fire!" came the sharp command. "Vive Napoleon!" cried the doomed man, and fell, mortally wounded. At that instant the Cure, with Medallion, came hurrying round the corner of the church. "Fools! Murderers!" he said to the soldiers. "Ah, these poor children!" Stooping, he lifted up Valmond's head, and Medallion felt Lagroin's pulseless heart. The officer picked up Valmond's pistol. A moment afterwards he looked at the dying man in wonder; for he found that the weapon was not loaded! CHAPTER XVII "How long, Chemist?" "Two hours, perhaps." "So long?" After a moment he said dreamily: "It is but a step." The Little Chemist nodded, though he did not understand. The Cure stooped over him. "A step, my son?" he asked, thinking he spoke of the voyage the soul takes. "To the Tuileries," answered Valmond, and he smiled. The Cure's brow clouded; he wished to direct the dying man's thoughts elsewhere. "It is but a step--anywhere," he continued; and looked towards the Little Chemist. "Thank you, dear monsieur, thank you. There is a silver night-lamp in my room; I wish it to be yours. Adieu, my friend." The Little Chemist tried to speak, but could not. He stooped and kissed Valmond's
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   >>  



Top keywords:
Valmond
 

officer

 

Chemist

 

Lagroin

 

pistol

 
Napoleon
 
Little
 

stooped

 
moment
 

monsieur


Medallion

 

looked

 
smiled
 

distance

 
soldiers
 

called

 
pulseless
 
picked
 

lifted

 

Stooping


silver

 

hurrying

 

corner

 

instant

 

kissed

 

church

 

Murderers

 

friend

 

children

 

weapon


answered

 
understand
 

nodded

 

direct

 

wished

 
clouded
 

Tuileries

 
thinking
 

voyage

 
wounded

thoughts
 

dreamily

 
CHAPTER
 
loaded
 

continued

 

Government

 
formally
 

surrender

 
preamble
 

mechanical