"Much pain, old chap?" asked the white-faced Rupert, as he wiped the blood from his friend's lips.
"No," whispered Sir Montague Merline. "I am dead ... up to ... the heart.... Expanding bullet.... Lungs ... and spine ... I ... ex- ... pect. Shan't be ... long."
"Anything I can do--any message or anything?" asked Rupert.
The dying man closed his eyes.
The Bucking Bronco was frankly blubbering. Turning to the dead "Goum" who had shot his friend, he swore horribly, and deplored that the man was dead and beyond the reach of his further vengeance. He fell instantly silent as his stricken friend spoke again.
"If you ... get ... to Eng ... land, Rupert ... will ... you go ... to ... my wife? She's Lady..." he whispered.
"Yes--Lady ... who?" asked Rupert eagerly.
"NO," continued the dying man, in a stronger voice, as he opened his eyes. "I never ... had ... a ... wife."
Silence again.
"Why Marguerite ... My ... darling ... girl. Darling ... at ... last. Marguerite."