"I was wrong, Duke," he murmured. "My love had blinded my wisdom with the heavy mask of egoism. On the threshold of eternity the truth seems clearer. Forgive me, De Morlay, as I forgive you." He choked. The Doctor came forward. The Duke, as pale as the dying man, pressed that loyal hand for the last time, and withdrew. In her own room Esperance had just waked with an anguished cry. "What is the matter with you?" "I ... I ... I do not know ... a catastrophe ... where is my father?" "In his room, and...." At that very moment Maurice knocked at the door, and before they had time to answer him, he entered. His face was distorted with grief. "A catastrophe, a catastrophe!" repeated Esperance, at sight of him. "Get up, put on a wrap, put something on your head, and come, come quickly! A carriage is waiting for us!" "A catastrophe, a catastrophe! Albert? the Duke?..." "Albert!" he answered brusquely. "Come quickly! He wants to see you before...." The words died in his throat. He helped his cousin and led her rapidly to the carriage. Esperance was gasping with anguish. "Tell me, Maurice, tell me." But the young man could not answer. He knew only that Albert was mortally wounded. He had been waiting a few paces from the Inn to see the duellers come out. The Duke de Morlay-La-Branche and Castel-Montjoie appeared first, and as they were talking to the young man, the Marquis de Montagnac came out precipitately. "I beg you," he said to Maurice, "to fetch the Count's fiancée. He wants to see her before his mother knows." And Maurice had departed in hot haste. As soon as they reached the Inn, Esperance jumped to the ground. Jeanette, who had kept a constant watch, ran along ahead of her and without a word showed her the door of the room where Count Albert lay dying. The Doctor stopped her. "Very gently," he said. But Albert had felt the presence of his dearly loved. He raised himself a little, holding out his great arms to the young girl. "Come to me, my love, do not be afraid. I will never hold you again in these arms that frighten you. Listen carefully. I have only a few minutes to live! No one knows the real reason of my quarrel with the Duke.... You may have thought that it was about you. I swear to you," he laid stress on the word, "I swear to you that it was nothing to do with you!" His glazing eyes cleared for an instant, illuminated by the beauty of his falsehood. "Marry the Duke, he is charming ... he ... he is loyal ... but do not abandon my mother; she will have only you!"