all, it is less than we apprehended. God be thanked, you are safe!"

"Who knows? I am suffering terribly."

The countess trembled.

"Trivulce!" she whispered in a tone of entreaty. "Trivulce!"

Never did lover glance at his beloved with more tenderness than Count
Claudieuse did at his wife.

"Pardon me, my dear Genevieve, pardon me, if I show any want of
courage."

A sudden nervous spasm seized him; and then he exclaimed in a loud
voice, which sounded like a trumpet,--

"Sir! But sir! Thunder and lightning! You kill me!"

"I have some chloroform here," replied the physician coldly.

"I do not want any."

"Then you must make up your mind to suffer, and keep quiet now; for
every motion adds to your pain."

Then sponging a jet of blood which spurted out from under his knife, he
added,--

"However, you shall have a few minutes rest now. My eyes and my hand are