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"You love her?--you?--you?" he panted

"Yes," I answered, flinging hiht for her once, and aain, now or at any other ti her--ever--yet I can serve her still, and protect

her from the pollution of your presence," and I clenchedat leam whiter than the laces above thehtly, easily as ever

"A very perfect, gentle knight!" he ri a Her with a

reverence distant and lowly! How like you, worthy cousin, how

very like yon, and how affecting! But"--and here his nostrils

quivered again--" but I tell you--she isshall come between us--no, by God!"

"That," said I, "that reh, indeed, I think she is safe from you while I live"

"But then, Cousin Peter, life is a very uncertain thing at best,"

he returned, glancing atlids

"Yes," I nodded, "it is so to re there, paused, and

looked back over his shoulder

"I go to find Charmian," said he, "and I shall find her--sooner

or later, and, when I do, should you take it upon yourself to

--coain, I shall

--kill you, worthy cousin, without the least co--act upon it, if not--" He

shrugged his shoulders significantly "Farewell, good and worthy

Cousin Peter, farewell!--or shall we say--'au revoir'?"