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y so。 She was a good girl。 She was betrothed to a good young man； too： a tenant of his。 We are all tenants of his……that man's who stands there。 The other is his brother； the worst of a bad race。〃
‘It was with the greatest difficulty that the boy gathered bodily force to speak； but； his spirit spoke with a dreadful emphasis。
‘We were so robbed by that man who stands there； as all we mon dogs are by those superior Beings……taxed by him without mercy； obliged to work for him without pay； obliged to grind our corn at his mill； obliged to feed scores of his tame birds on our wretched crops； and forbidden for our lives to keep a single tame bird of our own； pillaged and plundered to that degree that when we chanced to have a bit of meat； we ate it in fear； with the door barred and the shutters closed； that his people should not see it and take it from us……I say； we were so robbed； and hunted； and were made so poor； that our father told us it was a dreadful thing to bring a child into the world； and that what we should most pray for； was； that our women might be barren and our miserable race die out！〃
‘I had never before seen the sense of being oppressed； bursting forth like a fire。 I had supposed that it must be latent in the people somewhere； but； I had never seen it break out； until I saw it in the dying boy。
‘〃Nevertheless； Doctor； my sister married。 He was ailing at that time； poor fellow； and she married her lover； that she might tend and fort him in our cottage……our dog…hut； as that man would call it。 She had not been married many weeks； when that man's brother saw her and admired her； and asked that man to lend her to him……for what are husbands among us！ He was willing enough； but my sister was good and virtuous； and hated his brother with a hatred as strong as mine。 What did the two then； to persuade her husband to use his influence with her； to make her willing？〃
‘The boy's eyes； which had been fixed on mine； slowly turned to the looker…on； and I saw in the Mo faces that all he said was true。 The two opposing kinds of pride confronting one another； I can see； even in this Bastille； the gentleman's all negligent indifference； the peasant's； all trodden…down sentiment； and passionate revenge。
‘〃You know； Doctor； that it is among the Rights of these Nobles to harness us mon dogs to carts； and drive us。 They so harnessed him and drove him。 You know that it is among their Rights to keep us in their grounds all night； quieting the frogs； in order that their noble sleep may not be disturbed。 They kept him out in the unwholesome mists at night； and ordered him back into his harness in the day。 But he was not persuaded。 No！ Taken out of harness one day at noon； to feed……if he could find food……he sobbed twelve times； once for every stroke of the bell； and died on her bosom。〃
‘Nothing human could have held life in the boy but his determination to tell all his wrong。 He forced back the gathering shadows of death； as he forced his clenched right hand to remain clenched； and to cover his wound。
‘〃Then； with that man's permission and even with his aid； his brother took her away； in spite of what I know she must have told his brother……and what that is； will not be long unknown to you； Doctor； if it is now……his brother took her away……for his pleasure and diversion； for a little while。 I saw her pass me on the road。 When I took the tidings home； our father's heart burst； he never spoke one of the words that filled it。 I took my young sister （for I have another） to a place beyond the reach of this man； and where； at least； she will never be his vassal。 Then； I tracked the brother here； and last night climbed in…a mon dog； but sword in hand。……Where is the loft window？ It was somewhere here？〃
‘The room was darkening to his sight； the world was narrowing around him。 I glanced about me； and saw that the hay and straw were trampled over the floor； as if there had been a struggle。
‘〃She heard me； and ran in。 I told her not to e near us till he was dead。 He came in and first tossed me some pieces of money； then struck at me with a whip。 But I； though a mon dog； so struck at him as to make him draw。 Let him break into as many pieces as he will； the sword that he stained with my mon blood； he drew to defend himself……thrust at me with all his skill for his life。〃
‘My glance had fallen； but a few moments before； on the fragments of a broken sword； lying among the hay。 That weapon was a gentleman's。 In another place； lay an old sword that seemed to have been a soldier's。
‘〃Now； lift me up； Doctor； lift me up。 Where is he？〃
‘〃He is not here；〃 I said； supporting the boy； and thinking that he referred to the brother。
‘〃He！ Proud as these nobles are； he is afraid to see me。 Where is the man who was here？ Turn my face to him。〃
‘I did so； raising the boy's head against my knee。 But； invested for the moment with extraordinary power； he raised himself pletely： obliging me to rise too； or I could not have still supported him。
‘〃Marquis；〃 said the boy； turned to him with his eyes opened wide； and his right hand raised； 〃in the days when all these things are to be answered for； I summon you and yours； to the last of your bad race； to answer for them。 I mark this cross of blood upon you； as a sign that I do it。 In the days when all these things are to be answered for； I summon your brother； the worst of the bad race； to answer for them separately。 I mark this cross of blood upon him； as a sign that I do it。
‘Twice； he put his hand to the wound in his breast； and with forefinger drew a cross in the air。 He stood for an instant with the finger yet raised； and； as it with it； and I laid him down dead。 * * * *
‘When I returned to the bedside of the young woman； I found her raving in precisely the same order and continuity。 I knew that this might last for many hours； and that it would probably end in the silence of the grave。
‘I repeated the medicines I had given her； and I sat at the side of the bed until the night was far advanced。 She never abated the piercing quality of her shrieks； never stumbled in the distinctness or the order of her words。 They were always 〃My husband； my father； and my brother！ One； two； three； four； five； six； seven； eight； nine； ten； eleven； twelve。 Hush！〃
‘This lasted twenty…six hours from the time when I first saw her。 I had e and gone twice； and was again sitting by her； when she began to falter。 I did what little could be done to assist that opportunity； and by…and…by she sank into a lethargy； and lay like the dead。
‘It was as if the wind and rain had lulled at last； after a long and fearful storm。 I released her arms； and called the woman to assist me to pose her figure and the dress she had torn。 It was then that I knew her condition to be that of one in whom the first expectations of being a mother have arisen； and it was then that I lost the little hope I had had of her。
‘〃Is she dead？〃 asked the Marquis； whom I will still describe as the elder brother； ing booted into the room from his horse。
‘〃Not dead；〃 said I； 〃but like to die。〃
‘〃what strength there is in these mon bodies！〃 he said； looking down at her with some curiosity。
‘〃There is prodigious strength；〃 I answered him； 〃in sorrow and despair。〃
‘He first laughed at my words； and then frowned at them。 He moved a chair with his foot near to mine； ordered the woman away； and said in a subdued voice；
‘〃Doctor； finding my brother in this difficulty with these hinds； I remended that your aid should be invited。 Your reputation is high； and； as a young man with your fortune to make； you are probably mindful of your interest。 The things that you see here； are things to be seen； and not spoken of。〃
‘I listened to the patient's breathing； and avoided answering。
‘ 〃Do you honour me with your attention； Doctor？
‘〃Monsieur；〃 said I； 〃in my profession； the munications of patients are always received in confidence。〃 I was guarded in my answer； for I was troubled in my mind with what I had heard and seen。
‘Her breathing was so difficult to trace； that I carefully tried the pulse and the heart。 There was life； and no more。 Looking round as I resumed my seat； I found the brothers intent upon me。 * * * *
‘I write with so much difficulty； the cold is so severe； I am so fearful