To
suffocate himself, at Belleville, with a grisette, how dreadful!
He almost rudely pushed Jenny's arms away, and repulsed her.
"Enough of that sort of thing," said he, in his careless tone.
"What you say, child, is all very pretty, but utterly absurd. A
man of my name dies, and doesn't choke." And taking the bank-notes
from his pocket, where Jenny had slipped them, he threw them on the
table.
"Now, good-by."
He would have gone, but Jenny, red and with glistening eyes, barred
the door with her body.
"You shall not go!" she cried, "I won't have you; you are mine--for
I love you; if you take one step, I will scream."
The count shrugged his shoulders.
"But we must end all this!"
"You sha'n't go!"
"Well, then, I'll blow my brains out here." And taking out one of
his pistols, he held it to his forehead, adding, "If you call out
and don't let me pass, I shall fire." He meant the threat for
earnest.
But Jenny did not call out; she could not; she uttered a deep groan
and fainted.
"At last!" muttered Hector, replacing the pistol in his pocket.
He went out, not taking time to lift her from the floor where she
had fallen, and shut the door.
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