FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   >>  
combed his hair. Why should such tastes be given to a valet? Some one somewhere was to blame, dear Cure. I really did not conceive or plan imposture. I was only playing a comedian's part in front of the Louis Quinze, till I heard Parpon sing a verse of 'Vive Napoleon!' Then it all rushed on me, captured me--and the rest you know." The Cure could not trust himself to speak yet. "I had not thought to go so far when I began. It was mostly a whim. But the idea gradually possessed me, and at last it seemed to me that I was a real Napoleon. I used to wake from the dream for a moment, and I tried to stop, but something in my blood drove me on--inevitably. You were all good to me; you nearly all believed in me. Lagroin came--and so it has gone on till now, till now. I had a feeling what the end would be. But I should have had my dream. I should have died for the cause as no Napoleon or Bonaparte ever died. Like a man, I would pay the penalty Fate should set. What more could I do? If a man gives all he has, is not that enough? ... There is my whole story. Now, I shall ask your pardon, dear Cure." "You must ask pardon of God, my son," said the priest, his looks showing the anguish he felt. "The Little Chemist said two hours, but I feel"--his voice got very faint "I feel that he is mistaken." He murmured a prayer, and crossed himself thrice. The Cure made ready to read the office for the dying. "My son," he said, "do you truly and earnestly repent you of your sins?" Valmond's eyes suddenly grew misty, his breathing heavier. He scarcely seemed to comprehend. "I have paid the price--I have loved you all. Parpon--where are you?--Elise!" A moment of silence, and then his voice rang out with a sort of sob. "Ah, madame," he cried chokingly, "dear madame, for you I--" Madame Chalice arose with a little cry, for she knew whom he meant, and her heart ached for him. She forgot his imposture--everything. "Ah, dear, dear monsieur!" she said brokenly. He knew her voice, he heard her coming; his eyes opened wide, and he raised himself on the couch with a start. The effort loosened the bandage at his neck, and blood gushed out on his bosom. With a convulsive motion he drew up the coverlet to his chin, to hide the red stream, and said gaspingly: "Pardon, madame." Then a shudder passed through him, and with a last effort to spare her the sight of his ensanguined body,' he fell face downward, voiceless--for ever.
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   >>  



Top keywords:
Napoleon
 

madame

 

moment

 

effort

 

pardon

 
Parpon
 
imposture
 

silence

 
tastes
 

Chalice


Madame

 

chokingly

 
earnestly
 

repent

 
office
 

Valmond

 
comprehend
 
scarcely
 

heavier

 

suddenly


breathing

 

stream

 

gaspingly

 

coverlet

 

convulsive

 

motion

 

Pardon

 

shudder

 

downward

 

voiceless


ensanguined

 
passed
 

forgot

 

monsieur

 

brokenly

 
thrice
 

coming

 
opened
 

loosened

 
bandage

gushed
 

combed

 
raised
 
believed
 

inevitably

 

Lagroin

 
Quinze
 

feeling

 
gradually
 

possessed