The water was still rising. Pierre, who was watching it, cried:

"Louis, we must look out! The water is up to the window!"

That warning snatched us from our spell of despair. I was once more myself.
Shrugging my shoulders, I said:

"Money is nothing. As long as we are all saved, there need be no regrets.
We shall have to work again--that is all!"

"Yes, yes; you are right, father," said Jacques, feverishly. "And we run
no danger--the walls are good and strong. We must get up on the roof."

That was the only refuge left us. The water, which had mounted the stairs
step by step, was already coming through the door. We rushed to the attic
in a group, holding close to each other. Cyprien had disappeared. I called
him, and I saw him return from the next room, his face working with emotion.
Then, as I remarked the absence of the servants, for whom I was waiting,he
gave me a strange look, then said, in a suppressed voice:

"Dead! The corner of the shed under their room caved in."

The poor girls must have gone to fetch their savings from their trunks. I
told him to say nothing about it. A cold shiver had passed over me. It was
Death entering the house.

When we went up, in our turn, we did not even think of putting out the lights.
The cards remained spread upon the table. There was already a foot of water in
the room.