The Count of Nideck

chedness; her swollen eyes told me that she had been weeping l

be despondent. The turning-point of the malady must soon arrive, and this cris

there was a quiet conviction to the contrary, and I realized the weakness of my position when I reflect

it is grateful to know that there is some one who shares our a

house, and I only wish that I possessed a thousandfold more power to accomplish it than I do. But whatever my skill is

le's glance satisfied me that I had not transgressed the

doctor, I should beg of you to spare yourself as much as possible in the matter of night watches and too unremitting a care of the Count, for a true woma

d and lifted to my lips the hand which she gave me, I surpri

too long to calm in a measure the exuberance of feeli

er, as to restore the Count to health, for after the morning's experience I felt that my pity for the sick man had, in spite of myself, largely giv

Count's cure, and I resolved that the best effort of my life should be expended here. Meanwhile I knew not where to begin. Me

arly out of the question, though I was curious to see if any yielding on her p

is the noblest aim and achievement of womankind, and which she was so eminently fitted by every circumstance of fortune to occupy and adorn. It could not be that there was any lack of understanding; for at times, when I surprised her glance resting upon me, I read in it a depth of sensibility th

p and leaning on his elbow with outstretched neck and staring eyes, would mutter, "She is coming! She is coming!" Then Gideon wou

all served to strengthen me in this opinion. "Unknown chains unite his fate with that of the Black Plague," I said to myself. "That woman may have been young and beautiful in the past; who knows?" and my imagination, once

fe was Odile's presence. Had it not been for this, I dou

all that I held dearest in the world, and as I moved about the old Castle halls and chambers, the library, the drawing-room, the chapel, her fair figure and light ste

f the Count's malady, the outcome of which I could foresee no more clearly than before, and cudgelling my wits to deter

me

esent, when an expression of unusual seriousness on her face aroused my curiosity. She had thrown a large red-and-green shawl over her shoulders, and stood with her lips pursed

ked myself. "What do all these p

I beg your pardon for disturbing you so early in the

n! What is

bout the

A

bably know that I sat u

u did. Pra

, and I remarked with interest the energetic character of the face which h

am not a timid woman. I have seen many things in my life,-things so terrible that nothing astonishes me any mo

ak truly

ince you that I don't lose my wits at nothing, and that you may

she have to tell m

en nine and ten, just as I was starting u

t sit up with th

ised at this

unt! Isn't madame going to

is ill, and you m

le never have any thought for the future,-and then, it was her own father, too. So I took my knitting, said good night to Toby,

up a pinch of snuff, and seemed to be brus

never stirred; he was sleeping like a child. All went well up to eleven o'clock; then I began to feel tired; when you are old, monsieur, do what you will,

side. The night was as black as a bottle of ink, and I went back to my armchair. I took another look at the sick man and I saw that he hadn't stirred; th

ned my eyes, and what did I see? The long, middle window was wide open, the

Cou

es

le! He ca

s plainly as I see you this minute. He held a torch in his

Marie Lagout

t and wake him he will fall and be dashed to pieces.' So I kept still and watched him, as you can fancy. He raised his torch slowly, and then he lowered it, and he did this three times, like a man making

in you saw all

fect

s str

if nothing had happened, I said to myself, 'Marie Anne, you have had a bad dream; that is the only explanation of it!' and I went over to the window. But the

d at me for some min

but I was uneasy; it worried me. This morning, at the first signs of day, I ran to wake up Offenloch, and I sent him to the Count's bedside. As I went along the corridor I no

have risen from his bed, walked to the window, and opened and closed the heavy sash? What did this midnight signal mean? Wide awake as I was, it seemed to me as if I, too, had witnesse

e acted wisely in telling me this, and I thank you heartily

ngs are only to be confided

are a very se

At this moment, Sperver appeared at the end

ied, hurrying up; "

news. The Old Harry is most certa

ared. The steward and his