“Was the girl’s information correct, Count?” asked he.  “How are the Duke and M. Norbert, for of course you have seen them both?”

“M.  Norbert is too much agitated by the sad event to see any one.”

“Of course that was to be looked for,” returned the wily Counsellor; “for the seizure was terribly sudden.”

M. de Puymandour was too much occupied with his own thoughts to spare much pity for Norbert.  He would have given a great deal to have known what the young man was doing, and especially what he was thinking of at the present moment.

The poor lad was standing by the bedside of his dying father, watching eagerly for some indication, however slight, of returning life or reason.  The hours of horror and self-reproach had entirely changed his feelings and ideas; for it was only at the instant when he saw his father raise the poisoned wine to his lips that he saw his crime in all its hideous enormity.  His soul rose up in rebellion against his crime, and the words, “Parricide! murderer!” seemed to ring in his ears like a trumpet call.  When his father fell to the ground, his instinct made him shout for aid; but an instant afterwards terror took possession of him, and, rushing from the house, he sought the open country, as though striving to escape from himself.

Jean, the old servant, who had noticed Norbert’s strange look, was seized with a terrible fear.  Trusted as he was by both the Duke and his son, he had many means of knowing all that was going on in the household, and was no stranger to the differences that had arisen recently between father and son.  He knew how violent the tempers of both were, and he also knew that some woman was urging on Norbert to a course of open rebellion.  He had seen the cruel blow dealt by the Duke, and had wondered greatly when he saw Norbert return to the Chateau.  Why had he done so?  He had been in the courtyard when Norbert threw the glass from the window.  Putting all these circumstances together, as soon as the inanimate body of the Duke had been laid upon a bed, Jean went into the dining-room, feeling sure that he should make some discovery which would confirm his suspicions.  The bottle from which the Duke had filled his glass stood half emptied upon the table.  With the greatest care, he poured a few drops of its contents into the hollow of his hand, and tasted it with the utmost caution.  The wine still retained its customary taste and scent.  Not trusting, however, to this, Jean, after making sure that he was not observed, carried the bottle to his own room, and concealed it.  After taking this precaution, he ordered one of the other servants to remain by the side of the Duke until the arrival of the doctor, and then went in search of Norbert.