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ummoned to the royal bedside。 Old Bouchereau especially had black looks for the inventor of the Jenkins pearls。 Finally； when they had thoroughly examined and questioned their patient； they retired to deliberate among themselves in a little room with lacquered ceilings and walls； filled by an assortment of /bric…a…brac/ the triviality of which contrasted strangely with the importance of the discussion。
Solemn moment！ Anguish of the accused awaiting the decision of his judgeslife； death； reprieve； or pardon！
With his long； white hand Mora continued to stroke his mustache with a favourite gesture； to talk with Monpavon of the club； of the foyer of the /Varietes/； asking news of the Chamber； how matters stood with regard to the Nabob's electionall this coldly； without the least affectation。 Then； tired； no doubt； or fearing lest his glance； constantly drawn to that curtain opposite him； from behind which the sentence was to come presently； should betray the emotion which he must have felt in the depths of his soul； he laid his head on the pillow； closed his eyes； and did not open them again until the return of the doctors。 Still the same cold and sinister faces； veritable physiognomies of judges having on their lips the terrible decree of human fate； the final word which the courts pronounce fearlessly； but which the doctors； whose science it mocks； elude； and express in periphrases。
〃Well； gentlemen； what says the faculty？〃 demanded the sick man。
There were sundry murmurs of hypocritical encouragement； vague recommendations； then the three learned physicians hastened to depart； eager to escape from the responsibility of this disaster。 Monpavon rushed after them。 Jenkins remained at the bedside； overwhelmed by the cruel truths which he had just heard during the consultation。 In vain had he laid his hand on his heart； quoted his famous motto； Bouchereau had not spared him。 It was not the first of the Irishman's clients whom he had seen thus suddenly collapse； but he fervently hoped that the death of Mora would act as a salutary warning to the world of fashion； and that the prefect of police； after this great calamity； would send the 〃dealer in cantharides〃 to retail his drugs on the other side of the Channel。
The duke understood immediately that neither Jenkins nor Louis would tell him the true issue of the consultation。 He abstained； therefore； from any insistence in his questionings of them； submitted to their pretended confidence； affected even to share it； to believe the most hopeful things they announced to him。 But when Monpavon returned； he summoned him to his bedside； and； confronted by the lie visible even beneath the make…up of the decrepit old man； remarked：
〃Oh； you knowno humbug！ From you to me； truth。 What do they say？ I am in a very bad way； eh？〃
Monpavon prefaced his reply with a significant silence； then brutally； cynically； for fear of breaking down as he spoke：
〃Done for； my poor Augustus！〃
The duke received the sentence full in the face without flinching。
〃Ah！〃 he said simply。
He pulled his mustache with a mechanical gesture； but his features remained motionless。 And immediately he made up his mind。
That the poor wretch who dies in a hospital； without home or family； without other name than the number of his bed； that he should accept death as a deliverance or bear it as his last trial； that the old peasant who passes away； bent double； worn out； in his dark and smoky cellar； that he should depart without regret； savouring in advance the taste of that fresh earth which he has so many times dug over and over that is intelligible。 And yet how many； even among such； cling to existence despite all their misery！ how many there are who cry； holding on to their sordid furniture and to their rags； 〃I don't want to die！〃 and depart with nails broken and bleeding from that supreme wrench。 But here there was nothing of the kind。
To possess all； and to lose all。 What a catastrophe！
In the first silence of that dreadful moment； while he heard the sound of the music coming faintly from the duchess's ball at the other end of the palace； whatever attached this man to life； power； honour； wealth； all that splendour must have seemed to him already far away and in an irrevocable past。 A courage of a quite exceptional temper must have been required to bear up under such a blow without any spur of personal vanity。 No one was present save the friend； the doctor； the servant； three intimates acquainted with all his secrets； the lights moved back； left the bed in shadow； and the dying man might quite well have turned his face to the wall in lamentation of his own fate without being noticed。 But not an instant of weakness； nor of useless demonstration。 Without breaking a branch of the chestnut…trees in the garden； without withering a flower on the great staircase of the palace； his footsteps muffled on the thick pile of the carpets； Death had opened the door of this man of power and signed to him 〃Come！〃 And he answered simply； 〃I am ready。〃 The true exit of a man of the world； unforeseen； rapid； and discreet。
Man of the world！ Mora was nothing if not that。 Passing through life masked； gloved； breast…platedbreast…plate of white satin； such as the masters of fence wear on great days； preserving his fighting dress immaculate and clean； sacrificing everything to that irreproachable exterior which with him did duty for armour； he had determined on his /role/ as statesman in the passage from the drawing…room to a wider scene； and made； indeed； a statesman of the first rank on the strength alone of his qualities as a man about town； the art of listening and of smiling； knowledge of men； scepticism； and coolness。 That coolness did not leave him at the supreme moment。
With eyes fixed on the time； so short； which still remained to him for the dark visitor was in a hurry； and he could feel on his face the draught from the door which he had not closed behind himhis one thought now was to occupy the time well； to satisfy all the obligations of an end like his； which must leave no devotion unrecompensed nor compromise any friend。 He gave a list of certain persons whom he wished to see and who were sent for immediately； summoned the head of his cabinet； and； as Jenkins ventured the opinion that it was a great fatigue for him； said：
〃Can you guarantee that I shall wake to…morrow morning？ I feel strong at this moment； let me take advantage of it。〃
Louis inquired whether the duchess should be informed。 The duke； before replying； listened to the sounds of music that reached his room through the open windows from the little ball； sounds that seemed prolonged in the night on an invisible bow； then answered：
〃Let us wait a little。 I have something to finish。〃
They brought to his bedside the little lacquered table that he might himself sort out the letters which were to be destroyed； but feeling his strength give way； he called Monpavon。
〃Burn everything；〃 said he to him in a faint voice； and seeing him move towards the fireplace； where a fire was burning despite the warmth of the season；
〃No；〃 he added； 〃not here。 There are too many of them。 Some one might come。〃
Monpavon took up the writing…