"Fritz! Sébalt!--come, come quickly!"

We flew down the steps four at a time and rushed into the fencing-school.
Here we heard the cry of the wolf alone, prolonged beneath the echoing
arches the distant barking and yelling of the pack became almost
inaudible in the distance; the dogs were hoarse with rage and excitement,
their chains were getting entangled together. Perhaps they were
strangling each other.

Sperver drew the keen blade of his hunting-knife. Sébalt did the same;
they preceded me down the gallery.

Then the fearful sounds became our guide to the sick man's room. Sperver
spoke no more; he hurried forward. Sébalt stretched his long legs. I felt
a shuddering horror creep through my whole frame--a horrible presentiment
of something shocking and abominable came over us.

As we approached the apartments of the count we met the whole household
afoot--the gamekeepers, the huntsmen, the kennel-keepers, the scullions
were all mingled and jostling each other, asking--

"What is the matter? Where are those cries coming from?"

Without stopping we ran into the passage which led into the count's
bedroom, where we met poor Marie Lagoutte, who alone had had the courage
to penetrate thither before us. She was holding in her arms the young
countess, who had fainted, her head falling back, her hair flowing down
behind her; she was carrying her away as fast as she could.

We passed her so rapidly that we scarcely had time to witness this sad