“Just so, and if he is killed in his turn, my mother will be thrice a widow; widowed by the loss of her husband, widowed by the loss of her two sons.”
“Ah! I understand. This is fearful!”
“Well, this must be avoided, and that is why I have written this letter. Believing that I have died from brain fever my brother will not seek to avenge me, and my mother will be the more easily consoled, knowing it was the will of God, and that I did not fall by the hand of man. At least——”
“At least what?” I repeated.
“Oh, nothing,” replied Louis. “I hope that will not come to pass.”
I saw that he was referring to some personal fear, and I did not insist farther.
At this moment the door opened, and the Baron de Giordano entered.
“My dear de Franchi,” he said, “I respect your privacy more than anything, but it is past eight, and the meeting is appointed for nine; we have quite a league and a half to drive, and we should start at once.”
“I am ready, my dear fellow,” said Louis. “I have told my friend here all I had to say to him.”
He put his finger on his lips as our eyes met.