He suffered a great deal of pain from it of
course, but still more from his wounded pride; and he felt furiously and
unreasonably angry with everything and everybody about him. It seemed
to be somewhat of a relief to him to swear savagely at his bearers, and
call them all the hardest names he could think of, whenever he felt the
slightest jar, as they carried him slowly towards home, though they
were walking as steadily as men could do, and carefully avoiding every
inequality in the road. When at last he reached his own house, he was
not willing to be put to bed, as the surgeon advised, but lay down upon
a lounge instead, where he was made as comfortable as was possible by
his faithful Picard, who was in despair at seeing the young duke in
such a condition; astonished as well, for nothing of the kind had ever
happened before, in all the many duels he had fought; and the admiring
valet had shared his master's belief that he was invincible. The
Chevalier de Vidalinc sat in a low chair beside his friend, and gave him
from time to time a spoonful of the tonic prescribed by the surgeon,
but refrained from breaking the silence into which he had fallen.
Vallombreuse lay perfectly still for a while; but it was easy to see,
in spite of his affected calmness, that his blood was boiling with
suppressed rage.
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