Odile rose and advanced to the door.

"Stay!" he howled furiously--"stay till I have cursed you!"

So far I had stood by without speaking, not venturing to interfere
between Father and Daughter, but now I could refrain no longer.

"Monseigneur," I cried, "for the sake of your own health, for the sake
of mere justice and fairness, do calm yourself; your life is at stake."

"What matters my life? what matters the future? Is there a knife here to
put an end to me? Let me die!"

His excitement rose every minute. I seemed to dread lest in some frenzied
moment he should spring from the bed and destroy his child's life. But
she, calm though deadly pale, knelt at the door, which was standing open,
and outside I could see Sperver, whose features betrayed the deepest
anxiety. He drew near without noise, and bending towards Odile--

"Oh, mademoiselle!" he whispered--"mademoiselle, the count is such a
worthy, good man. If you would but just say only, 'Perhaps--by-and-by--we
will see.'"

She made no reply, and did not change her attitude.

At this moment I persuaded the Lord of Nideck to take a few drops of
Laudanum; he sank back with a sigh, and soon his panting and irregular
breathing became more measured under the influence of a deep and heavy
slumber.