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The Companions of Jehu by Alexandre Dumas père
page 92 of 883 (10%)
go by diligence, I hope?"

"No, sir, I travel by post; but you need have no fear; I shall
not depart."

"Nor I," said the Englishman. "Have them unharness my horses;
I shall remain."

"I must go," sighed the dark young man whom Roland had addressed
as general. "You know it is necessary, my friend; my presence
yonder is absolutely imperative. But I swear that I would not
leave you if I could possibly avoid it."

In saying these words his voice betrayed an emotion of which,
judging from its usual harsh, metallic ring, it had seemed incapable.
Roland, on the contrary, seemed overjoyed. His belligerent nature
seemed to expand at the approach of a danger to which he had
perhaps not given rise, but which he at least had not endeavored
to avoid.

"Good! general," he said. "We were to part at Lyons, since you
have had the kindness to grant me a month's furlough to visit
my family at Bourg. It is merely some hundred and sixty miles
or so less than we intended, that is all. I shall rejoin you
in Paris. But you know if you need a devoted arm, and a man who
never sulks, think of me!"

"You may rest easy on that score, Roland," exclaimed the general.
Then, looking attentively at the two adversaries, he added with
an indescribable note of tenderness: "Above all, Roland, do not
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