rance deeply, and
now that the subject was thus accidentally broached between them, he had
a desire to say something in continuation. Still he waited until the
baronet had left the window and taken a seat by his bed.

"Gervaise," Bluewater then commenced, speaking low from weakness, but
speaking distinctly from feeling, "I cannot die without asking your
forgiveness. There were several hours when I actually meditated
treason--I will not say to my _king_; on that point my opinions are
unchanged--but to _you_."

"Why speak of this, Dick? You did not know yourself when you believed it
possible to desert me in the face of the enemy. How much better I judged
of your character, is seen in the fact that I did not hesitate to engage
double my force, well knowing that you could not fail to come to my
rescue."

Bluewater looked intently at his friend, and a smile of serious
satisfaction passed over his pallid countenance as he listened to Sir
Gervaise's words, which were uttered with his usual warmth and sincerity
of manner.

"I believe you know me better than I know myself," he answered, after a
thoughtful pause; "yes, better than I know myself. What a glorious close
to our professional career would it have been, Oakes, had I followed you
into battle, as was our old practice, and fallen in your wake, imitating
your own high example!"

"It is better as it is, Dick--if any thing that has so sad a termination
can be well--yes, it is better as it is; you have fallen at my _side_,
as it were. We will think or talk no more of this."

"We have been friends, and close friends too, for a long period,
Gervaise," returned Bluewater, stretching his arm from the bed, with the
long, thin fingers of the hand extended to meet the other's grasp; "yet,
I cannot recall an act of yours which I can justly lay to heart, as
unkind, or untrue."

"God forgive me, if you can--I hope not, Dick; most sincerely do I hope
not. It would give me great pain to believe it."

"_You_ have no cause for self-reproach. In no one act or thought can you
justly accuse yourself with injuring _me_. I should die much happier
could I say the same of myself, Oakes!"

"Thought!--Dick?--Thought! You never meditated aught against _me_ in
your whole life. The love you bear _me_, is the true reason why you lie
there, at this blessed moment."

"It is grateful to find that I have been understood. I am deeply
indebted to you, Oakes, for declining to signal me and my divi