"Albert!" he answered brusquely. "Come quickly! He wants to see you before...."
He helped his cousin and led her rapidly to the carriage. Esperance was gasping with anguish.
But the young man could not answer. He knew only that Albert was mortally wounded. He had been waiting a few paces from the Inn to see the duellers come out. The Duke de Morlay-La-Branche and Castel-Montjoie appeared first, and as they were talking to the young man, the Marquis de Montagnac came out precipitately.
"I beg you," he said to Maurice, "to fetch the Count's fiancée. He wants to see her before his mother knows."
As soon as they reached the Inn, Esperance jumped to the ground. Jeanette, who had kept a constant watch, ran along ahead of her and without a word showed her the door of the room where Count Albert lay dying. The Doctor stopped her.
But Albert had felt the presence of his dearly loved. He raised himself a little, holding out his great arms to the young girl.
"Come to me, my love, do not be afraid. I will never hold you again in these arms that frighten you. Listen carefully. I have only a few minutes to live! No one knows the real reason of my quarrel with the Duke.... You may have thought that it was about you. I swear to you," he laid stress on the word, "I swear to you that it was nothing to do with you!"
His glazing eyes cleared for an instant, illuminated by the beauty of his falsehood.
"Marry the Duke, he is charming ... he ... he is loyal ... but do not abandon my mother; she will have only you!"
Two red streams trickled from the corners of his mouth. Esperance on her knees with her hands crossed on the bed, watched the blood run down on the face that had grown paler than the pillow. Her tears blinded her, and she shook as with an ague. Albert ceased breathing for an instant. The Doctor, who was watching closely from the end of the room, came near and gave him a dose of chlorate of calcium to stop the hemorrhage; then at a sign from Albert, withdrew again.
"Promise me," said the young man, "that you will always keep this necklace!"
"Albert, don't die! I will love you! I do love you! Have pity! I will always wear the necklace. You shall unfasten it every evening and clasp it every morning! Do not die! Do not die! I am your fiancée, to-morrow I will be your wife! You must life for your mother, for me!"