Mademoiselle consented to part with me when she had heard all,
suddenly observing, however, as she looked at Darpent: 'But,
Monsieur, are you not the great Frondeur with ideas of your own? Did
not this same d'Aubepine beat you soundly? Hein! How is it that you
are taking him in---? Your enemy, is he not?'
'So please your Royal Highness, we know no enemies in wounded men,'
replied Darpent, bowing.
Her attention was called off, and she said no more, as Clement and I
hastened away as fast as we could through a by-street to avoid the
march of the troops of Conde, who were choking the Rue St. Antoine,
going, however, in good order. He told me on the way that M.
d'Aubepine had shown great courage and calmness after the first
shock, and after a few questions had hung on his arm through the
streets, not uttering a word, though he felt her trembling all over,
and she had instantly assumed the whole care of her husband with all
the instinct of affection. But as he and his mother felt certain
that amputation would be necessary, he had come to fetch me to take
care of her.
Fortunately for us, we had not to cross the Rue St. Antoine to enter
the Maison Verdon, but Clement opened a small door into the court
with a private key, presently knocking at a door and leading me in.
Armand d'Aubepine had been the first patient admitted, so his was the
chief guest-chamber--a vast room, at the other end of which was a
great bed, beside which stood my poor Cecile, seeing nothing but her
husband, looking up for a moment between hope and terror in case it
should be the surgeon, but scarcely taking in that it was I till I
put my arms round her and kissed her; and then she put her finger to
her lips, cherishing a hope that because the poor sufferer had closed
his eyes and lay still in exhaustion, he might sleep.
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