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Updated: June 22, 2025
"I have not risen so early in years, and I am chilled to the bone. Gabord insists that it is warm in your dungeon; I have a fancy to breakfast there. It will recall my year in the Bastile." He smiled in a quaint, elusive sort of fashion, and as I drew the cloak about me, I said through chattering teeth, for I had suffered with the brutal cold, "I am glad to have the chance to offer breakfast."
I could hear only a confused murmur of voices, through which ran twice, "No, no, monsieur," in Alixe's soft, clear voice. I could scarcely restrain myself, and I am sure I should have gone in, in spite of all, had it not been for Gabord, who withstood me. He was right, and as I turned away I heard Alixe cry, "My father, my poor father!"
The most meagre intelligence came to me from the outer world. I no longer saw Gabord; he had suddenly been with drawn and a new jailer substituted, and the sentinels outside my door and beneath the window of my cell refused all information. For months I had no news whatever of Alixe or of those affairs nearest my heart. I heard nothing of Doltaire, little of Bigot, and there was no sign of Voban.
"Now I have hope of you," he broke out gaily; "you will yet redeem your nation." At that moment Gabord came with a message from the Governor to Doltaire, and he prepared to go. "You are set on sacrifice?" he asked. "Think dangling from Cape Diamond!" "I will meditate on your fate instead," I replied. "Think!" he said again, waving off my answer with his hand.
And then I read him that part of her postscript which had to do with himself. He put his head on one side like a great wise magpie, and "H'm ha!" said he whimsically, "aho! Gabord the soldier, Gabord, thou hast a good heart and the birds fed the beast with plums and froth of comfits till he died, and on his sugar tombstone they carved the words, 'Gabord had a good heart."
We heard the lady's cries, and two gave chase to the carriage, while one followed the others. By the help of soldier Gabord here you all were captured. You have hung where you are for two days, and now I shall have you whipped. When that is done, you shall tell your story. If you do not speak truth, you shall be whipped again, and then hung. Ladies shall have safety from rogues like you."
At that he asked Gabord why I was unbound, and my jailer answered that binding was for criminals who were to be HANGED! I could scarcely believe my ears. I was to be shot, not hanged. I had a thrill of gratitude which I can not describe. It may seem a nice distinction, but to me there were whole seas between the two modes of death.
He reached me first, and with an "Au diable!" made a stroke at me. It was a matter of sword and sabre now. Soon the two were clean cut off from the French army, and must fight to the death or surrender. Juste Duvarney spoke only once, and then it was but the rancorous word "Renegade!" nor did I speak at all; but Clark was blasphemous, and Gabord, bleeding, fought with a sputtering relish.
"You are not well," he said, with instant show of curiosity; "your wounds still trouble you? They should be healed. Gabord was ordered to see you cared for." "Gabord has done well enough," answered I. "I have had wounds before, monsieur." He leaned against the wall and laughed. "What braggarts you English are!" he said. "A race of swashbucklers even on bread and water!"
Through nearly closed eyelids however I saw Gabord enter. Doltaire stood in the doorway watching as the soldier knelt and lifted my arm to take off the bloody scarf. His manner was imperturbable as ever. Even then I wondered what his thoughts were, what pungent phrase he was suiting to the time and to me.
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