Part 3 (2/2)
”There, thank Heaven, that's over,” said the fellow, giving nora, I'll say that for you, and I only wish you'd have better taste than to love a Frenchman You can blame him and not me for what I have done”
What could I do save to lie still and grind my teeth at e were always soothed by the reflection that I had suffered for the woman whom I loved It is the custoly endure any pain for their sake, but it was e to show that I had said no ht also how nobly I would seem to have acted if ever the story caht well be of their colonel These thoughts helped me to suffer in silence while the blood still trickled over my neck and dripped upon the stone floor It was that sound which nearly led tofast,” said one of the valets ”You had best fetch a surgeon or you will find her dead in the ”
”She lies very still and she has never opened her mouth,” said another
”The shock has killed her”
”Nonsense; a young woman does not die so easily” It was Matteo who spoke ”Besides, I did but snip off enough to leave the tribunal's nora, rouse up!”
He shook me by the shoulder, and my heart stood still for fear he should feel the epaulet under the mantle
”How is it with you now?” he asked
I made no answer
”Curse it, I wish I had to do with a man instead of a woondolier ”Here, Nicholas, lend ht”
It was all over The worst had happened Nothing could save me I still crouched in the corner, but I was tense in every
If I had to die I was determined that one for a la over me with a handkerchief In another instant my secret would be discovered But he suddenly drew hiht and stood motionless At the sah the littlefar above my head It was the rattle of oars and the buzz of many voices
Then there was a crash upon the door upstairs, and a terrible voice roared: ”Open! Open in the name of the Emperor!”
The Emperor! It was like the hten the demons
Away they ran with cries of terror--Matteo, the valets, the steward, all of theAnother shout and then the crash of a hatchet and the splintering of planks There were the rattle of arms and the cries of French soldiers in the hall Next instant feet ca down the stair and a man burst frantically into my cell
”Lucia!” he cried, ”Lucia!” He stood in the di and unable to find his words Then he broke out again ”Have I not shown you how I love you, Lucia? What more could I do to prove it? I have betrayed my country, I have broken ivenLorenzo Loredan, the lover whom I had superseded My heart was heavy for him at the time, but after all it is every araceful and considerate winner
I was about to point this out to hiave a shout of astonish in the corridor and flashed it in my face
”It is you, you villain!” he cried ”You French coxco which you have done me”
But the next instant he saw the pallor offrom my head
”What is this?” he asked ”How come you to have lost your ear?”
I shook offmy handkerchief to my wound I rose from my couch, the debonair colonel of Hussars
”My injury, sir, is nothing With your per and so personal”
But Lucia had burst through fro out the whole story while she clasped Lorenzo's arentleman--he has taken my place, Lorenzo! He has borne it for ht be saved”