"Now, bring the duke to my bed side, and let everyone go and leave us together."
The doctor signed for the duke to approach, and silently presented him to the patient.
Then he beckoned Sister Francoise to follow him, and they left the room, closing the door behind them.
"I am sorry to see you suffering, my brother," said the duke, kindly, as he bent over the dying man.
"Ah! you call me your brother! You acknowledge me then?" said Scott, half in earnest, half in mockery.
"Most certainly I do acknowledge you, and most sincerely do I deplore your misfortunes," answered the duke.
"Yet I have been a great sinner. I feel that now, as I lie upon my death-bed," muttered Scott, in a low tone.
"I look upon you as one 'more sinned against than sinning,'" said the duke seriously.
"Yes, that is true also," murmured the dying man.
"But let us not dwell upon that. The past is dead. Let it be buried."