de Lescure," said he, in the deep, hoarse, would-be solemn voice, which he now always affected to use.

De Lescure turned quickly round, and so did his companions.

The words of a man who thinks that he is almost immediately about to die are always interesting.
"If you are talking about me," said the unfortunate wretch, "pray spare yourself the trouble.

I neither ask, nor wish for any mercy at your hands.

I am ready to die." As de Lescure looked at him, and observed the alteration which a few weeks had made in his appearance--his sunken, sallow cheeks; his wild and bloodshot eyes; his ragged, uncombed hair, and soiled garments--as he thought of his own recent intimacy with him--as he remembered how often he had played with him as a child, and associated with him as a man--that till a few days since he had been the bosom friend of his own more than brother, Henri Larochejaquelin, the tears rushed to his eyes and down his cheeks.