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‘〃Nevertheless； Doctor； my sister married。 He was ailing at that time； poor fellow； and she married her lover； that she might tend and comfort him in our cottageour dog…hut； as that man would call it。 She had not been married many weeks； when that man's brother saw her and admired her； and asked that man to lend her to himfor what are husbands among us！ He was willing enough； but my sister was good and virtuous； and hated his brother with a hatred as strong as mine。 What did the two then； to persuade her husband to use his influence with her； to make her willing？〃
‘The boy's eyes； which had been fixed on mine； slowly turned to the looker…on； and I saw in the Mo faces that all he said was true。 The two opposing kinds of pride confronting one another； I can see； even in this Bastille； the gentleman's all negligent indifference； the peasant's； all trodden…down sentiment； and passionate revenge。
‘〃You know； Doctor； that it is among the Rights of these Nobles to harness us common dogs to carts； and drive us。 They so harnessed him and drove him。 You know that it is among their Rights to keep us in their grounds all night； quieting the frogs； in order that their noble sleep may not be disturbed。 They kept him out in the unwholesome mists at night； and ordered him back into his harness in the day。 But he was not persuaded。 No！ Taken out of harness one day at noon； to feedif he could find foodhe sobbed twelve times； once for every stroke of the bell； and died on her bosom。〃
‘Nothing human could have held life in the boy but his determination to tell all his wrong。 He forced back the gathering shadows of death； as he forced his clenched right hand to remain clenched； and to cover his wound。
‘〃Then； with that man's permission and even with his aid； his brother took her away； in spite of what I know she must have told his brotherand what that is； will not be long unknown to you； Doctor； if it is nowhis brother took her awayfor his pleasure and diversion； for a little while。 I saw her pass me on the road。 When I took the tidings home； our father's heart burst； he never spoke one of the words that filled it。 I took my young sister （for I have another） to a place beyond the reach of this man； and where； at least； she will never be his vassal。 Then； I tracked the brother here； and last night climbed in…a common dog； but sword in hand。Where is the loft window？ It was somewhere here？〃
‘The room was darkening to his sight； the world was narrowing around him。 I glanced about me； and saw that the hay and straw were trampled over the floor； as if there had been a struggle。
‘〃She heard me； and ran in。 I told her not to come near us till he was dead。 He came in and first tossed me some pieces of money； then struck at me with a whip。 But I； though a common dog； so struck at him as to make him draw。 Let him break into as many pieces as he will； the sword that he stained with my common blood； he drew to defend himselfthrust at me with all his skill for his life。〃
‘My glance had fallen； but a few moments before； on the fragments of a broken sword； lying among the hay。 That weapon was a gentleman's。 In another place； lay an old sword that seemed to have been a soldier's。
‘〃Now； lift me up； Doctor； lift me up。 Where is he？〃
‘〃He is not here；〃 I said； supporting the boy； and thinking that he referred to the brother。
‘〃He！ Proud as these nobles are； he is afraid to see me。 Where is the man who was here？ Turn my face to him。〃
‘I did so； raising the boy's head against my knee。 But； invested for the moment with extraordinary power； he raised himself completely： obliging me to rise too； or I could not have still supported him。
‘〃Marquis；〃 said the boy； turned to him with his eyes opened wide； and his right hand raised； 〃in the days when all these things are to be answered for； I summon you and yours； to the last of your bad race； to answer for them。 I mark this cross of blood upon you； as a sign that I do it。 In the days when all these things are to be answered for； I summon your brother； the worst of the bad race； to answer for them separately。 I mark this cross of blood upon him； as a sign that I do it。
‘Twice； he put his hand to the wound in his breast； and with forefinger drew a cross in the air。 He stood for an instant with the finger yet raised； and； as it with it； and I laid him down dead。 * * * *
‘When I returned to the bedside of the young woman； I found her raving in precisely the same order and continuity。 I knew that this might last for many hours； and that it would probably end in the silence of the grave。
‘I repeated the medicines I had given her； and I sat at the side of the bed until the night was far advanced。 She never abated the piercing quality of her shrieks； never stumbled in the distinctness or the order of her words。 They were always 〃My husband； my father； and my brother！ One； two； three； four； five； six； seven； eight； nine； ten； eleven； twelve。 Hush！〃
‘This lasted twenty…six hours from the time when I first saw her。 I had come and gone twice； and was again sitting by her； when she began to falter。 I did what little could be done to assist that opportunity； and by…and…by she sank into a lethargy； and lay like the dead。
‘It was as if the wind and rain had lulled at last； after a long and fearful storm。 I released her arms； and called the woman to assist me to compose her figure and the dress she had torn。 It was then that I knew her condition to be that of one in whom the first expectations of being a mother have arisen； and it was then that I lost the little hope I had had of her。
‘〃Is she dead？〃 asked the Marquis； whom I will still describe as the elder brother； coming booted into the room from his horse。
‘〃Not dead；〃 said I； 〃but like to die。〃
‘〃what strength there is in these common bodies！〃 he said； looking down at her with some curiosity。
‘〃There is prodigious strength；〃 I answered him； 〃in sorrow and despair。〃
‘He first laughed at my words； and then frowned at them。 He moved a chair with his foot near to mine； ordered the woman away； and said in a subdued voice；
‘〃Doctor； finding my brother in this difficulty with these hinds； I recommended that your aid should be invited。 Your reputation is high； and； as a young man with your fortune to make； you are probably mindful of your interest。 The things that you see here； are things to be seen； and not spoken of。〃
‘I listened to the patient's breathing； and avoided answering。
‘ 〃Do you honour me with your attention； Doctor？
‘〃Monsieur；〃 said I； 〃in my profession； the communications of patients are always received in confidence。〃 I was guarded in my answer； for I was troubled in my mind with what I had heard and seen。
‘Her breathing was so difficult to trace； that I carefully tried the pulse and the heart。 There was life； and no more。 Looking round as I resumed my seat； I found the brothers intent upon me。 * * * *
‘I write with so much difficulty； the cold is so severe； I am so fearful of being detected and consigned to an underground cell and total darkness； that I must abridge this narrative。 There is no confusion or failure in my memory； it can recall； and could detail； every word that was ever spoken between me and those brothers。
‘She lingered for a week。 Towards the last； I could understand some few syllables that she said to me； by placing my ear close to her lips。 She asked me where she was； and I told her； who I was； and I told her。 It was in vain that I asked her for her family name。 She faintly shook her head upon the pillow； and kept her secret； as the boy had done。
‘I had no opportunity of asking her any question； until I had told the brothers she was sinking fast； and could not live another day。 Until then； though no one was ever presented to her consciousness save the woman and myself； one or other of them had always jealously sat behind the curtain at the head of the bed when I was there。 But when it came to that； they seemed careless what communication I might hold with her； as ifthe thought passed through my mindI were dying too。
‘I always observed that their pride bitterly resented the younger brother's （as I call him） having crossed swords with a peasant； and that peasant a boy。 The only consideration that appeared to affect the mind of either of them was the consideration that this was highly degrading to the family； and was ridiculous。 As often as I caught the younger brother's eyes； their expression reminded me that he disliked me deeply； fur knowing what I knew from the boy。 He was smoother and more polite to me than the elder； but I saw this。 I also saw that I was an incumbrance in the mind of the elder； too。
‘My patient died； two hours before midnightat a time； by my watch； answering almost to the minute when I had first seen her。 I was alone with her； when her forlorn young head trooped gently on one side； and all her earthly wrongs and sorrows ended。
‘The brothers were waiting in a room down…stairs； impatient to ride away。 I had heard them； alone at the bedside； striking their boots with their riding…whips； and loitering up and down。
‘〃At last she is dead？〃 said the elder； when I went in。
‘〃She is dead；〃 said I。
‘〃I congratulate you； my brother；〃 were his words as he