turned to the maid in order to tell her this. Instantly the suspicious
stranger drew his dagger; but I had time to explain the matter to the
woman, who explained in a word or two to him in a low voice. On
hearing my opinion, a quick, slight shudder ran through him from head
to foot like a lightning flash; I fancied I could see him turn pale
under his black velvet mask.

"'The waiting-woman took advantage of a moment when he was bending in
despair over the dying woman, who had turned blue, to point to some
glasses of lemonade standing on a table, at the same time shaking her
head negatively. I understood that I was not to drink anything in
spite of the dreadful thirst that parched my throat. The lover was
thirsty too; he took an empty glass, poured out some fresh lemonade,
and drank it off.

"'At this moment the lady had a violent attack of pain, which showed
me that now was the time to operate. I summoned all my courage, and in
about an hour had succeeded in delivering her of the child, cutting it
up to extract it. The Spaniard no longer thought of poisoning me,
understanding that I had saved the mother's life. Large tears fell on
his cloak. The woman uttered no sound, but she trembled like a hunted
animal, and was bathed in sweat.

"'At one horribly critical moment she pointed in the direction of her
husband's room; he had turned in his sleep, and she alone had heard
the rustle of the sheets, the creaking of the bed or of the curtain.
We all paused, and the lover and the waiting-woman, through the
eyeholes of their masks, gave each other a look that said, "If he
wakes, shall we kill him?"