"Besides, who cares
for me? I have no friends, no family. But you are married--and so many
will mourn if you"--
Raynal interrupted him sternly. "You forget, sir, that Rose de
Beaurepaire is my sister, when you tell me you have no tie to life."
He added, with wonderful dignity and sobriety, "Allow me to write to
my wife, sir; and, while I write, reflect that you can embitter an old
comrade's last moments by persisting in your refusal to restore his
sister the honor you have robbed her of."
And leaving the other staggered and confused by this sudden blow, he
retired into Dujardin's tent, and finding writing materials on a little
table that was there, sat down to pen a line to Josephine.
Camille knew to whom he was writing, and a jealous pang passed through
him.
What he wrote ran thus,--
"A bastion is to be attacked at five. I command. Colonel Dujardin
proposed we should draw lots, and I lost. The service is honorable,
but the result may, I fear, give you some pain. My dear wife, it is our
fate. I was not to have time to make you know, and perhaps love me.
Pages:
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511