Oldal 234 [234]
LABOULAYE’S FAIRY BOOK
“Your Majesty has forgotten it," replied Rachimburg,
quietly. "The poor child is fatally wounded in the shoul¬
der; he cannot recover. It would give him great happi¬
ness could he see Your Majesty before he dies."
‘Very well," returned the king; "lead me to him.”
On his arrival at the castle Charming was met by the
countess, who conducted him to a darkened room. The
page was stretched, pale and bleeding, on a couch: never¬
theless, he had strength to raise his head and welcome the
king.
. What a miracle!” exclaimed Charming. ‘This is the
strangest wound that I ever saw in my life: one side of
Tonto’s mustache is gone!"
“Sire,” said the countess, "the blade of the sword proba¬
bly swept off one side. Nothing is so capricious as sword
wounds, as every one knows.”’
"How strange!" cried the king. ‘On one side it is
Tonto, my page, my insolent subject, and on the other it is
—no, I am not mistaken—it is you, my good angel and my
savior; It 15 you, my poor Pazza!”’
He fell on his knees and seized her hand, which lay on
the coverlet.
‘Sire,’ said Pazza, "my days are numbered, but before
dying—”’
“No, no, Pazza, you shall not die,” cried the king, in
tears.
192