waved his handkerchief to implore help. The carriage immediately came
towards the Minorite convent, and M. d'Albon recognized neighbors, M.
and Mme. de Grandville, who hastened to alight and put their carriage
at his disposal. Colonel de Sucy inhaled the salts which Mme. de
Grandville happened to have with her; he opened his eyes, looked
towards the mysterious figure that still fled wailing through the
meadow, and a faint cry of horror broke from him; he closed his eyes
again, with a dumb gesture of entreaty to his friends to take him away
from this scene. M. and Mme. de Grandville begged the Councillor to
make use of their carriage, adding very obligingly that they
themselves would walk.

"Who can the lady be?" inquired the magistrate, looking towards the
strange figure.

"People think that she comes from Moulins," answered M. de Grandville.
"She is a Comtesse de Vandieres; she is said to be mad; but as she has
only been here for two months, I cannot vouch for the truth of all
this hearsay talk."

M. d'Albon thanked M. and Mme. de Grandville, and they set out for
Cassan.

"It is she!" cried Philip, coming to himself.

"She? who?" asked d'Albon.

"Stephanie. . . . Ah! dead and yet living still; still alive, but her
mind is gone! I thought the sight would kill me."