crossed, and his eyes dry. He shuddered at intervals, and murmured, in a
hoarse, hollow voice: "Both of them! Both of them!" Then he relapsed
into his mournful attitude. M. Durocher, approached Camors quickly.
"Monsieur," said he, "what can this be? I believe it to be poisoning,
but can detect no definite symptoms: otherwise, the parents should know--
but they know nothing! A sunstroke, perhaps; but as both were struck at
the same time--and then at this season--ah! our profession is quite
useless sometimes."

Camors made rapid inquiries. They had sought M. Durocher, who was dining
with Madame de Tecle an hour before. He had hastened, and found the
children already speechless, in a state of fearful congestion. It
appeared they had fallen into this state when first attacked, and had
become delirious.

Camors conceived an idea. He asked to see the clothes the children had
worn during the day. The mother gave them to him. He examined them with
care, and pointed out to the doctor several red stains on the poor rags.
The doctor touched his forehead, and turned over with a feverish hand the
small linen--the rough waistcoat--searched the pockets, and found dozens
of a small fruit-like cherries, half crushed. "Belladonna!" he
exclaimed. "That idea struck me several times, but how could I be sure?
You can not find it within twenty miles of this place, except in this
cursed wood--of that I am sure."

"Do you think there is yet time?" asked the young Count, in a low voice.
"The children seem to me to be very ill."

"Lost, I fear; but everything depends on the time that has passed, the
quantity they have taken, and the remedies I can procure."