"Let go, let go," and at the same time quickly withdrew her hand. Seeing that her brother-in-law was somewhat hurt, she hastened to add:
"Look here, the less we talk of these things, and, if possible, the less we think of them, the better. The thing is now for you to take the soup. Then I will bring you some biscuits and a sandwich—you will like that?"
"I have no appetite, Cecilia," he replied, making an effort to control his emotion.
"You must try—"
"No, no; really I can not swallow anything just now."
"But if I ask you?" said the girl, and as she spoke a flush suffused her face.
"Then, well then, I'll take it—nobody can refuse you anything," he replied, taking the cup.
That gallant reply had a painful effect on Cecilia, and to avoid it being noticed she quickly left the room.
The Duke of Tornos lay for two or three days between life and death. But finally the fever left him, and the danger was over, although the recovery was very long, because he had two ribs and a jawbone fractured, besides terrible contusions in various parts of his body.