She awaits me at Kiel. I accompany my child so far, but as soon
as she is in the faithful hands of my sister, as soon as I have
placed them upon the ship sailing for Copenhagen, I return here."
"Why should you return, my lord?" said the doctor, in terror. "Is it
not sufficient that you have deprived the mother of her child? that
you have branded the woman with shame before the whole world? What
more would you do, my lord?"
With a strange smile, Lord Elliot laid his hand upon the doctor's
shoulder.
"Flows there milk instead of blood in your veins, man? or have you
forgotten that I have been hit by a poisoned arrow? I must be
revenged, if I would not die of this wound."
"Let your wounds bleed, my lord--the longer they bleed, the sooner
they will heal. But why destroy the arrow that wounded you? Will you
recover the sooner or suffer the less?"
"Again I ask you, is there milk instead of blood in your veins? My
honor is stained--I must cleanse it with the blood of my enemy."
"A duel, then, my lord? You will suffer chance to decide your most
holy and sacred interests--your honor and life? And if chance is
against you? If you fall, instead of your adversary?"
"Then, my friend, God will have decided it, and I shall thank Him
for relieving me from a life which will from henceforth be a heavy
burden to me.
Pages:
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117
1118
1119
1120
1121
1122
1123
1124
1125
1126
1127
1128
1129
1130
1131
1132
1133