Volume III Part 58 (1/2)
”Calm yourself, my lord,” said Clemence; ”there is, doubtless, no danger.
See her cheeks are tinged with color; it is the shock--only the shock.”
”But hardly convalescent, she will die. Woe is me!”
At this moment, David, the black physician, entered precipitately: holding in his hands a small box filled with vials, and a paper, which he handed to Murphy.
”David, my child is dying. I have saved your life--you must save my child!”
cried Rudolph.
Although amazed at these words of the prince, who spoke of his child, the doctor ran to Fleur-de-Marie, whom Lady d'Harville held in her arms, took hold of the young girl's pulse, placed his hand on her forehead, and turning toward Rudolph, who, pained and alarmed, awaited his doom, he said: ”There is no danger, let your highness be a.s.sured.”
”You speak the truth--no danger--none?”
”Not any, your highness. A few drops of ether, and this attack will pa.s.s over.”
”Oh! thank you, David--my good David!” cried the prince, warmly. Then turning toward Clemence, Rudolph added, ”She lives--our daughter will live.”
Murphy had just cast his eyes over the note which David had placed in his hand; he shuddered, and looked at the prince with affright.
”Yes, my old friend,” said Rudolph, ”in a short time my daughter will say to Lady d'Harville,” My mother!'”
”My lord,” said Murphy, trembling, ”the news of yesterday was false.”
”What do you say?”
”A violent attack, followed by a fainting fit, had caused them to think that the Countess M'Gregor was dead.”
”The countess--”
”This morning there are hopes of saving her.”
”Oh!” cried the prince, while Clemence looked at him with surprise, not comprehending his altered appearance.
”My lord,” said David, still occupied with Fleur-de Marie, ”there is no cause for the slightest uneasiness. But fresh air is necessary; the chair can be rolled on the terrace by opening the door of the garden, she will then soon recover.”
Murphy ran immediately to open the gla.s.s door, and aided by David, he gently rolled the chair into the garden, leaving Rudolph and Clemence alone.
CHAPTER XXII
DEVOTION.
”Ah! madame,” cried Rudolph, as soon as Murphy and David had departed, ”you do not know that the Countess M'Gregor is the mother of Fleur-de-Marie!”
”Great heavens!”
”I thought her dead; and what you are still ignorant of,” added Rudolph, with bitterness, ”is that this woman, as selfish as ambitious, loving me only as a prince, had, in my younger days, contrived to lead me into a marriage, which was afterward dissolved. Wis.h.i.+ng then to marry again, the countess has caused all the misfortunes of her child by abandoning her to mercenary hands.”
”Ah! now I understand the aversion that your highness had for her.”