I
arrive at my story: just now, I went in to get some signatures. At the
moment I placed my hand on the lock, I thought I heard some one speak. I
stopped, and distinguished two or three dull cries, like stifled sobs.
After having hesitated to enter for a moment, fearing some misfortune, I
opened the door."
"Well?"
"What did I see? The governor on his knees, on the floor."
"On his knees?"
"On the floor?"
"Yes, kneeling on the floor, his face in his hands and Us elbows on the
seat of one of his old arm-chairs."
"It is very plain. What fools we are! He is so bigoted, he was making an
extra prayer."
"In any case, it would be a funny prayer! Nothing could be heard but
stifled groans, only from time to time he murmured, between his teeth,
'Lord, lord!' like a man in a state of despair. Seeing this, I did not know
whether I ought to remain or to retire."
"That would have been also my political opinion."
"I remained, therefore, very much embarrassed, when he rose and turned
suddenly. He had between his teeth an old pocket-handkerchief; his
spectacles remained on the chair. In all my life I have never seen such a
face: he had the appearance of a lost soul. I drew back, alarmed--on my
word of honor, alarmed! Then he--"
"Caught you by the throat?"
"You are out there. He looked at me, at first, with a bewildered air; then,
letting his handkerchief fall, which he had, doubtless, gnawed and torn in
grinding his teeth, he cried, throwing himself into my arms, 'Oh! I am very
unhappy!'"
"Draw it mild!"
"Fact! Well, in spite of his death's-head look, when he pronounced these
words his voice was so heart-rending--I would say, almost so soft--"
"So soft? Get out.
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