The Last Cavalier: Being the Adventures of Count Sainte-Hermine in the Age of Napoleon. Alexandre Dumas

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СКАЧАТЬ one voice, we both shouted yes, my brother and I, and vowed that we’d avenge him,” said Hector.

      “So,” Mademoiselle de Sourdis asked, “that was your brother they were going to shoot?”

      “Yes,” Hector answered. “Is it enough for you to know the result, or would you like to know the details of his final moments? These details, each word of which made our own hearts beat doubly faster, may be of slight interest to you, since you never knew poor Léon.”

      “Oh, on the contrary, tell me everything,” Mademoiselle de Sourdis cried out. “Don’t leave out a single word. Was not Monsieur Léon de Sainte-Hermine a relative of mine, and do I not have the right to follow him all the way to his tomb?”

      “That is exactly what we said to my young friend Charles.”

      “‘You can imagine,’ young Charles continued, ‘how upset I was to learn that the man walking beside me, a man full of youth who could speak so lightly of events, was going to die. And that he was a compatriot, the head of one of our most important families, the Comte de Sainte-Hermine.

      “‘“Is there no way to save you?” I whispered.

      “‘“Frankly, I have to say that I don’t see any,” he answered. “If I did, I’d try it without wasting another second.”

      “‘“Although I’m unable to offer you any great service, I would like to be useful to you in some way, and while I can’t save you from death, perhaps I can at least make your death less painful, to help you somehow in the face of it.”

      “‘“Since I first saw you I have been turning an idea over in my head.”

      “‘“Tell me what it is.”

      “‘“There may be some danger, and I don’t want it to frighten you.”

      “‘“I’m ready to do anything to serve you.”

      “‘“I would like to send news to my brother.”

      “‘“I take it upon myself to do it for you.”

      “‘“It’s a letter.”

      “‘“I shall take it to him.”

      “‘“I could give it to the captain. He’s a good man; he would probably have it sent to its destination.”

      “‘“With the captain,” I answered, “it’s only probable. With me, it’s certain.”

      “‘“Well, then, listen carefully.” I stepped closer, and he said, “The letter has already been written; it’s sewn into my cap.”

      “‘“Very well.”

      “‘“You must ask the captain for permission to be present at my execution.”

      “‘“Me!” I answered, and my forehead broke out in cold sweat.

      “‘“Don’t dismiss the idea out of hand. An execution is always interesting. Many people attend them simply for the enjoyment of it.”

      “‘“I haven’t the courage.…”

      “‘“Come now. Everything happens so quickly.”

      “‘“I couldn’t! Never!”

      “‘“Let’s say nothing more about it then,” said the count. “All you need to tell my brothers, if you happen to run into them, is that we met as they were about to send me to the firing squad.” And he began to whistle the tune from Vive Henry IV.

      “‘I quickly moved still closer. “Excuse me,” I said. “I’ll do whatever you want me to do.”

      “‘“Well, now, you’re a very kind boy. Thank you!”

      “‘“But.…”

      “‘“What?”

      “‘“But you have to be the one who asks the captain if I can be present. I could not bear it if they thought that I wanted to watch for pleasure.”

      “‘“Very well. I shall tell him that we are from the same region, and I’ll ask him to let me send something of mine to my brother, my cap, for instance. Such things happen all the time. Besides, you understand, there is nothing suspicious about a garrison cap.”

      “‘“No.”

      “‘“When I give the order to fire, I shall toss it aside. Don’t act too much in a hurry to pick it up. Wait until I’m dead.”

      “‘“Oh!” I gasped, turning pale. My whole body began to tremble.

      “‘“Who has a little alcohol for my young fellow countryman?” your brother asked. “He’s cold.”

      “‘“Come here, my good boy,” said the captain. He handed me his flask. I drank a swallow, then thanked him.

      “‘“At your service.… A swallow, Citizen Sainte-Hermine?” he shouted to the prisoner.

      “‘“Thank you very much, Captain,” he answered. “I never drink alcohol.”

      “‘I walked back to where he was, and he continued with his instructions to me. “So, when I’m dead, you’ll pick up my cap, but treat it as if it were a thing of no importance. But you realize of course that my last wishes, the last wishes of a dying man, are sacred, and that the letter I’ve hidden in the cap must be delivered to my brother. If the cap is inconvenient, slip out the letter and toss the cap into a ditch somewhere. As for the letter, are you sure you won’t lose it?”

      “‘“No,” I said, trying to hold back my tears. “I mean, I’m sure.”

      “‘“You won’t misplace it?”

      “‘“No, no! You can rest easy.”

      “‘“And you will give it to my brother yourself?”

      “‘“Yes, I shall do so myself.”

      “‘“To my brother Charles, the elder. He has the same name as you, so it will be easy to remember.”

      “‘“To him and to no other.”

      “‘“Be sure of that! So, and then he’ll ask you how I died, and you’ll tell him. And he’ll say, ‘Good, I had a good brother,’ and when his turn comes, he’ll die like me.”

      “‘We came to a fork in the road; one road led to General Pichegru’s headquarters, the other to the fortress. I tried to speak, but no words came to my mouth. I looked at your brother beseechingly. He smiled.

      “‘“Captain,” he said. “A favor.”

      “‘“What favor? If it’s in my power.…”

      “‘“Perhaps СКАЧАТЬ