Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Never, perhaps, in his life had he felt such violent anger as when the last despatch of the baron told him with what rapidity Beauvouloir's plans were advancing, the baron attributing them wholly to the bonesetter's ambition. A few days before his arrival a rumor was spread about the country by what means no one seemed to know of the passion of the young Duc de Nivron for Gabrielle Beauvouloir.
Etienne comprehended love in its dual expression, and Gabrielle fled lest she should be drawn by that love whither she knew not. At the moment when the Duc de Nivron reascended the staircase to the castle, after closing the door of the tower, a cry of horror, uttered by Gabrielle, echoed in his ears with the sharpness of a flash of lightning which burns the eyes.
In proof of this, offer to marry any man whom the duke himself may select as your husband. He is generous; he will dower you handsomely." "I can do all except deny my love." "But if that alone can save your father, yourself, and Monseigneur de Nivron?" "Etienne," she replied, "would die of it, and so should I."
If he dies by your fault, I'll burn you myself on a gridiron." "If you continue to be so violent, the Duc de Nivron will die by your own act," said the doctor, roughly. "Leave him now; he will go to sleep." "Good-night, my love," said the old man, kissing his son upon the forehead.
The sombre and solemn chamber, where nothing had been changed in twenty-five years, made a frame for this poetic canvas, full of extinguished passions, saddened by death, tinctured by religion. "The Marechal d'Ancre has been killed on the Pont du Louvre by order of the king, and O God!" "Go on!" cried the duke. "Monsieur le Duc de Nivron " "Well?" "Is dead!"
Etienne is Duc de Nivron, and you, my child, are the daughter of a poor doctor." "My father swore to contradict me in nothing," said Etienne, calmly. "He swore to me also to consent to all I might do in finding you a wife," replied the doctor; "but suppose that he does not keep his promises?" Etienne sat down, as if overcome. "The sea was dark to-night," he said, after a moment's silence.
Etienne, you are the Duc de Nivron, and you will be, after me, the Duc d'Herouville, peer of France, knight of the Orders and of the Golden Fleece, captain of a hundred men-at-arms, grand-bailiff of Bessin, Governor of Normandy, lord of twenty-seven domains counting sixty-nine steeples, Marquis de Saint-Sever. You shall take to wife the daughter of a prince. Would you have me die of grief?
"I speak of no less a person," said Latournelle, pompously, "than Monsieur le Duc d'Herouville, Marquis de Saint-Sever, Duc de Nivron, Comte de Bayeux, Vicomte d'Essigny, grand equerry and peer of France, knight of the Spur and the Golden Fleece, grandee of Spain, and son of the last governor of Normandy.
"I swear to build a chapel to Saint-Jean and Saint-Etienne, the patrons of my wife and son, and to found one hundred masses in honor of the Virgin, if God and the saints will restore to me the affection of my son, the Duc de Nivron, here present." He remained on his knees in deep humility with clasped hands, praying.
"I wish I could see Maximilien here," continued the duke, with a smile of satisfaction. "My fine boy! He commands a company in the King's Guard. The Marechal d'Ancre takes care of my lad, and our gracious Queen Marie thinks of allying him nobly, now that he is created Duc de Nivron. My race will be worthily continued. The lad performed prodigies of valor in the attack on "
Word Of The Day