The Story of Paul Jones: An Historical RomanceLewis, Alfred Henry
General
The Story of Paul Jones: An Historical Romance
Lewis, Alfred Henry
Jones, John Paul, 1747-1792 -- Fiction
To hide the faults I see;
That mercy I to others show,
Such mercy show to me.’
“There!” he concludes, “I call that stanza a complete boxing of the
religious compass.”
Gourgaud looks in professionally, and is inclined to take a solemn view
of his patient’s health. He rebukes him for running about the garden
among his guests.
“You should not have permitted it,” says Gourgaud, admonishing Aimee
with upraised finger.
“But he refused to be restrained!” returns Aimee, ruefully.
“Gourgaud!” the patient breaks forth cheerily, “you know the aphorism:
At forty every man is either a fool or a doctor. Now I am over forty;
and, as a fellow-practitioner, I promise you that our patient, Paul
Jones, is out of danger and on the mend.” Then, gayly: “Come, Gourgaud,
don’t croak! Take a glass of wine, man; you frighten Aimee with your
long looks.” Gourgaud takes his wine; but his looks are quite as long as
before.
Abruptly and apropos of nothing, Admiral Paul Jones decides to make his
will.
“Your will!” protests Gouverneur Morris, somewhat aghast. “But you
haven’t been in such health for months.”
“Not on account of my health,” he explains, “but because of those
Barbary pirates.”
Notaries are brought in by Benoît-André, and the will is drawn. The
gallant testator is for giving all to his Aimee.
“The house you already have,” says he; “and also an annuity. Now I leave
you the rest; and Beaupoil shall be executor, with Morris as a witness.
There; it is arranged!”
But it is not arranged. The red-gold Aimee points out that he has
certain nieces and nephews in Scotland and Virginia; they must not
be forgotten. He yields to amendments in behalf of those nieces and
nephews. Then the will is sealed and signed.
“It has eased my mind,” he says, giving the document into the hands
of Major Beaupoil for safe-keeping--“it has eased my mind more than I
supposed possible.” Then, with a look at Aimee: “There will be enough,
_petite_, to take care of you, even though our friends here turn the
country bottom-side up. Luckily, too, the property is in England and
America and Holland, where values stand more steadily than they do in
France.”
Aimee remembers the “Sword of Honor,” given by King Louis for that
victory over the _Serapis_.
“You always declared it should go to your friend, Dale,” she says.
“So I do still!”
Aimee brings the sword. She presses the gilt scabbard to her lips; then
she puts it in the hands of her “Paul.” He half draws the blade, and
considers it with an eye of pride.
“You see this sword?” he remarks to Gouverneur Morris, “Should I die,
carry it with my love to Dick Dale--my good old Dick, who did more than
any other man to help me win it!”
It is nine o’clock; night has fallen. The many friends have gone their
homeward ways. The back parlor of the house in the Rue Tournon is
peaceful and still.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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